Islamabad (AsiaNews) The election of Pope Benedict XVI elicited great joy in the whole of Pakistan with many people celebrating by giving away sweetmeat and candies.
The mass media broadcast the event live as masses were said in Catholic churches.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf welcomed the new Pope Benedict XVI.
Speaking with journalists in Manila where he is on a visit he said the new Pontiff will have an important role to play in bridging the social and cultural divide between the West and Islam.
In the diocese of Faisalabad, Bishop Joseph Coutts joined the faithful in celebrating the event handing out sweetmeats and singing thanksgiving hymns.
"We are grateful to God for a Pope full of wisdom," Bishop Coutts said, "and pray for his health".
Mgr. Evarist Pinto, Archbishop of Karachi, also expressed his joy for the election of the new Pontiff.
"I am certain that he will continue the work of the unforgettable John Paul II. With his excellent gifts of mind and heart he will be able to meet the challenges of today's secularistic world."
"We in the Archdiocese of Karachi pledge our loyalty to the See of Peter," he added.
Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus, said that the new Pope "should focus on the unity, strength, and solidarity among Christians all over the world and [. . .] continue the mission of Pope John Paul II, especially [in terms of] inter-faith harmony and [. . .] dialogue between the different religions of the world." (QF)