AMERICA/PERU - “We have a Pope! After feeling like orphans after the death of our beloved John Paul II we are filled with new joy and hope for the election of Benedict XVI

Lima (Fides Service) - The “We have a Pope!” announcement filled Peruvians with joy. “Church bells all over the city rang to announce the election of Benedict XVI for the joy of all our people. After feeling like orphans since the death of our beloved Pope John Paul II we were filled again with joy and hope, certain that the new Pope is the Holy Spirit’s gift to the Church”: Silvio Mac Long, on the staff at the Pontifical Mission Societies office in Lima said on the telephone to Fides. “The city is filled with joy. All the different sectors of the local Church were waiting anxiously for the chosen Cardinal to appear and when we saw him we thanked God for the new Successor of Peter”.
Bishop Salvatore Piñeiro, military ordinary in Peru gave the following statement to Fides: “It is a great joy for Peru to know that we have a new Pope! The new Vicar of Christ has visited this country twice. He has shown loving concern for our country. He came to help us with the problem of Liberation Theology and to help our Church to grow in maturity.” Thousands filled Lima Cathedral to celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving for the election of the new Pope.(R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 20/4/2005, righe 18, parole 264)