Rome (AsiaNews) – Shared joy and hope for the future are the main points in the messages that some important catholic movements have sent to the newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI.

"It is with great joy that we welcome the election of Pope Benedict XVI," said Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolari movement.

"We can reassure him that he is in our intense and constant prayers. We pray to the Lord, as he urged us to do, so that we can help him to bear fruit, a fruit that does not wither and; that the earth may change from a vale of tears to God's garden.

Don Julián Carrón, Father Giussani's successor at the helm of Communion and Liberation, greeted the Pontiff on behalf of his movement, extolling the "simplicity with which he presented himself to the people of Rome and of the world", which shows "the truth and humanity of his faith and offer: Christ".

The community of S. Egidio started its message thanking the College of Cardinals for "having given the Church and the world the Pope and Bishop of Rome in such a quick and united way".

The community also remembered John Paul II, who was a "father to us all and without a doubt to he who is now called to lead the Church".