Mark Garnier MP today welcomed the news that Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the new Pope.
Upon his election, he chose Francis for his papal name, becoming Pope Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis will be the new spiritual leader of the 1.2bn Roman Catholics across the world. The Pope is the first Catholic leader from Latin America, and the first one in more than 1,200 years to hail from outside Europe.
Mark Garnier commented: 'I welcome the news that the Catholic Church has elected a new leader, and I recognise the significance of this news for Catholics across Wyre Forest.
'By choosing the name after Saint Francis of Assisi, the Pope signaled that in his view the Church should have a missionary role, that it should get out to meet and engage people, and facilitate the faith.
'In just a few days of his pontificate, Pope Francis has won the hearts of many Catholics around the world, and his charisma will certainly prove helpful in his new role of the spiritual leader.'