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<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Obama: Pope
selection speaks to 'strength and vitality' of South
America<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CNN<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">March 13,
2013<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/13/obama-pope-selection-speaks-to-strength-and-vitality-of-south-america/">http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/13/obama-pope-selection-speaks-to-strength-and-vitality-of-south-america/</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(CNN) -
President Barack Obama released the following statement on the selection of
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina to become the next
pope:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">On behalf of
the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope
Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy. As a
champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the
message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than two
thousand years-that in each other we see the face of God. As the first pope from
the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region
that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic
Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day.
Just as I appreciated our work with Pope Benedict XVI, I look forward to working
with His Holiness to advance peace, security and dignity for our fellow human
beings, regardless of their faith. We join with people around the world in
offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins the sacred work of leading
the Catholic Church in our modern world.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Disclaimer: The
Republican National Committee provided the above article as a service to its
employees and other selected individuals. Any opinions expressed therein
are those of the article’s author and do not necessarily reflect the views and
opinions of the RNC.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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