Vatican City, Jan 23, 2010 / 17:28 pm
Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the election of the new Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church in a letter on January 22. In it, the Holy Father expressed his prayer that the new leader have the "inner strength to consolidate the unity and spiritual growth of the Serbian Orthodox Church."
The Pope began his letter by praying that the Lord grant the new Patriarch “abundant gifts of grace and wisdom for the fulfillment of (his) high responsibilities in the service of the Church” and the people entrusted to him.
The 80-year-old Irinej Gavrilovica, previously Bishop of Nis, became the 45th Serbian Patriarch when he was enthroned on Saturday in Belgrade in the first act of a two-part ceremony, the second is to take place in Pec, Kosovo.
On his first day as the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church he reaffirmed the Church's rejection of a divided Serbia and Kosovo.