Taraba: Election of New Pope Has Brought Great Joy to Catholics Worldwide

Bratislava, May 9 (TASR) - Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) has commented on the election of the new pope in a social media post, calling it "a great joy for all Catholics worldwide". "When choosing their names, popes usually refer to their predecessors and indicate what kind of papacy they will implement," said Taraba. "Pope Leo XIII was a traditionalist who opened the Church to the modern world," he added, pointing to the new pontiff's first words about how "love and peace will ultimately overcome evil". "My wish for the new pope is that under his leadership, the Church will remain united, strong in faith, open to people and brave where it's persecuted," said the minister. American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected on Thursday by the conclave as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church. The newly elected pope has taken the name Leo XIV. lin/df