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Lukashenka congratulates newly elected Pope Francis

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has congratulated Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on his election as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and invited the Holy Father to visit Belarus.

"You have devoted all your life to God and people, tirelessly preaching the Gospel and nurturing love for high spiritual ideals in [people's] hearts," the Belarusian leader says in his message to Cardinal Bergoglio, who has taken the name of Pope Francis. "Now the Lord has called you as an experienced pastor and theologian to guide the Boat of Saint Peter through the turbulent sea of modern life."

The mission of the pontiff is also to be an indefatigable pilgrim who brings the light of hope to the world and fosters faith and love, Mr. Lukashenka says. He expresses confidence that Pope Francis will continue to "proclaim the immutable Christian principles that form the foundation of human civilization."

He also expresses confidence that the relations between Belarus and the Holy See will become even better after the election of Pope Francis.

"We would be happy to welcome you on the hospitable Belarusian land where relations between the Orthodox and Catholic believers are steeped in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation," Mr. Lukashenka says.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires in December 1936 to Italian immigrant parents. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and earned a reputation as a humble man who speaks out for the poor and leads an austere life. Bergoglio became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and a cardinal in 2001.

Cardinal Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13 following the resignation of his predecessor, 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI, on health grounds. He is also the first pontiff from outside Europe since Gregory III in the eighth century.

A doctrinal conservative, Cardinal Bergoglio has opposed liberation theology, abortion, gay marriage and the ordination of women, standing with his predecessor in holding largely traditional views.

During a 25-minute audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on April 27, 2009, Mr. Lukashenka suggested that the pontiff should visit Belarus and meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Belarus.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, archbishop of the Minsk-Mahilyow Archdiocese, said that the Belarusian Catholics were "looking forward to meeting with the newly elected pontiff on the Belarusian land." "The Catholics of Belarus met the election of the new pontiff with gratitude to God and hope," he said. "They express their respect and loyalty to him and see in him a good pastor who till lead them into the new time and will give them spiritual support." //BelaPAN