Statement by Archbishop Vigneron on the Election of Pope Francis

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron made the following remark following the introduction of Pope Francis this afternoon:

“Praise be the Lord Jesus, who has given us Pope Francis to be our Holy Father. I join all the faithful in thanking Christ for this grace, which we have prayed ardently for in these days.

“With hearts full of love and filial affection, we welcome Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Saint Peter, with thanks for his generosity in accepting the Lord’s call to follow him and to strengthen our faith.

“The new Holy Father spoke of our walking with him ‘on the way’ and asking us to ask God to bless him. We will go forward joyfully together, confident in the power of the Good News we bear to the world.”

A Vespers prayer service will take place at 5:15 p.m. this afternoon at the main chapel at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd. (at Linwood) in Detroit. A news conference will immediately follow the service.