Australian religious welcome new Pope

Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013

President of Catholic Religious Australia, Sister Annette Cunliffe rsc, welcomes the appointment  of Pope Francis, formerly Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio SJ -a Jesuit who has taken on the name "Francis" for his papacy. 

“I think Australian religious would be seeing signs of hope - the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, a religious (Jesuit) who chose a name no Pope before him has taken: Francis which may refer to Francis of Assisi as he has shown great solidarity with the poor," said Sr Annette. "However the name could also refer to the great Jesuit St. Francis Xavier who is patron of Australia and was missionary in every way.” 

“He also has a wealth of experience, a reputation for being pastoral and the ability to unite traditional theology with a real commitment to social justice and the poor.”