Appointment of new Pope welcomed

Archbishop Sean Brady welcomed the appointment of a new Pope

The appointment of a new Pope has been welcomed by the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Archbishop Sean Brady said Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who will be known as Pope Benedict XVI, was a man of ability with "great simplicity of life".

"He will also be very keen on dialogue with people of other faiths and other churches," he said.

He said he hoped the new Pope would be invited to visit Ireland: "We would certainly welcome him here in Ireland."

A special Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast on Tuesday.

Bishop Patrick Walsh told those attending that the Pope's choice of name had special significance.

"Pope Benedict XV was elected Pope at the beginning of the First World War and during his reign of eight years he worked tirelessly for peace," he said.

"For peace and the cessation of the war of course, but also for peace in the troubled countries in the years that followed the war.

"Our present Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is very conscious that there are so many countries in the world torn by strife.

"We think immediately of the Holy Land, we think of Iraq.

Cardinal Ratzinger will be known as Pope Benedict XVI

"I'm quite certain that the Holy Father is putting peace in the world at the top of his agenda."

Cardinal Cahal Daly, who has met the new Pope on several occasions, said he thought the image of him portrayed by some sections of the media as a conservative and reactionary man was very unfair.

"I think they are quite unjustified. I only wish people would have a little bit of patience and wait to get to know Cardinal Ratzinger as Benedict XVI," he said.

"He'll still be Joseph Ratzinger and he'll still be the man that I and many others know to be a quite outstanding person of great compassion, understanding and patience."

The Church of Ireland Primate, Robin Eames, offered Catholics in Northern Ireland his "prayerful good wishes" on the appointment.

"I pray that God will bless and guide him as he takes up his new privileges and heavy responsibilities at this time," he said.

The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Dr Brian Fletcher, welcomed the election.

"Our prayer is that, chosen by the Holy Spirit the new pontiff will lead the Church in God's way and that like Benedict XV he too will strive to bring about peace in today's world," he said.

Irish president Mary McAleese offered her best wishes to the new pontiff.

"Your guidance and leadership amid the complexities of modern life will be crucial," she said.