After the Conclave: Three Canadian Cardinals Meet Reporters

Friday, April 22 2005

(CCCB – Rome)… Approximately 30 reporters from Canada, United States, Italy, France and Britain attended a news conference held at the Pontifical Canadian College on Wednesday, 20 April, to hear the reactions of the three Canadian Cardinals who had participated in the election of the 265th Pope.

Their Eminences Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto, and Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, told reporters what had impressed them the most during the unique situation they had just experienced. They expressed their delight at the choice of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI and successor to John Paul II. According to the three Cardinals, the quick election on the fourth ballot, which represents half the votes needed to elect Karol Wojtyla, demonstrates the unity within the Church.

After a meeting with the new Pope on Friday morning at the Vatican, the Canadian Cardinals will participate in the installation on Sunday, 24 April, which will be presided by the Holy Father. Most Reverend Brendan M. O’Brien, Archbishop of St. John’s and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), will also be in attendance.

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For More Information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: 011 39 06 698 61505 (last 10 numbers if calling from Rome)
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salvas@cccb.ca