Political and religious leaders join chorus in congratulating new pope World leaders sent in their congratulations and Catholics around the world were celebrating Wednesday after the Vatican announced the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy, making him the first pontiff from the Americas. As bells tolled and crowds cheered across Latin America, President Barack Obama offered warm wishes to Pope Francis and said the selection speaks to the strength and vitality of the New World. "I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis," Mr. Obama said. 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 2,000 years. In Europe, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also issued statements of congratulations. Wednesday was "a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world," Mr. Cameron said in a message posted to Twitter, while Ms. Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, said millions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike would be looking to the new Pope for guidance not just in questions of faith but in matters of peace, justice and protecting creation. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement welcoming the new pope. "Canada and the Holy See share a commitment to the promotion of the dignity of the human person and to freedom of conscience and religion," it said. Reaction also came from other religious leaders. Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's Anglicans, wished "every blessing" to the new Pope and said he looked forward to meeting him. World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder praised the new pope as "an experienced man, someone who is known for his open-mindedness ... a man of dialogue, a man who is able to build bridges with other faiths." He also said the Pope "is no stranger to us," and had attended many interfaith events that the Congress had organized over the years in Latin America. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he looked forward to co-operation with the Holy See under Pope Francis's "wise leadership," while European Union leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso wished the new Catholic leader "a long and blessed pontificate." In the United States, where the divide is especially stark between Catholics who want the Roman Catholic Church to modernize and those who favour its traditional ways, some activists expressed optimism that the new Pope had chosen to take the name of Francis, a saint who advocated for reform and for the poor. "This is a powerful first sign that he recognizes the church is in need of a spiritual renewal rooted in humility and social justice," said John Gehring, Catholic program director at Faith in Public Life, a liberal advocacy group. Donna Doucette, executive director of Voice of the Faithful, a group of lay Catholics that formed in 2002 in reaction to the clergy sex scandals, said she had mixed opinions about Pope Francis, who is known for choosing a simple, humble life, but who is not a liberal. "It remains to be seen whether he is a person of the 21st century or the 17th century," Ms. Doucette said. Despite the overwhelming outpouring of joy and goodwill, not everyone thought the news was positive. Andrew Reding of the World Policy Institute in New York said the choice of Bergoglio was an example of "superficial change." "Once again, a conclave has made a bold geographical move while choosing a doctrinal conservative," he said. To paraphrase an old saying, the more things change in the Roman Catholic Church, the more they stay the same. Associated Press with reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters