Looks forward to new Papacy of His Holiness Pope Francis
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten wished the Catholic Community on St. Maarten and Catholics around the world best wishes and warm congratulations on the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis on Wednesday. "On behalf of the Government and people of St. Maarten, I would like to wish the Catholic Community and Pope Francis warm congratulations and offer our heartfelt prayers for the new Holy Father. The Catholic Community on St. Maarten is a strong one and I am sure that they join me in welcoming His Holiness and embracing his vision for the worldwide Catholic Community," commented the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also said that she shared in the region’s sense of pride in having a pope elected from the Americas; "It is indeed a great step that for the first time in history a Pope is elected from the South and Central American Region. I look forward to the new Papacy, overseen by the Holy Father who has made it his life long commitment to put the plight of the poor and dispossessed at the center of his ministry. I join all of the members of the Catholic Community both here on St. Maarten and abroad in offering prayers for the Holy Father, Pope Francis in confronting the herculean task he faces in this new role within the Church, and I urge the community of St. Maarten to join us in these prayers," concluded the Prime Minister.