Washington D.C., Mar 15, 2013 / 16:16 pm
International leaders greeted the election of Pope Francis with joy, noting his commitment to defending Catholic values and caring for the poor.
"I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who has taken the name Pope Francis on his assumption of the papacy, and to all Catholics across the world on this momentous occasion," said United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is from South Korea.
Moon explained that he looks "forward to continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See." He also expressed a desire to pursue common goals, "from the promotion of peace, social justice and human rights, to the eradication of poverty and hunger," with the new Pope.
The Secretary General also affirmed "that His Holiness will continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue, which is at the heart of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative."