From LifeNews:
The world's Catholic leaders have chosen a strong pro-life advocate and the top official under Pope John Paul II as the new leader of the church. German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was charged with teaching Catholics worldwide about the church's position on key issues such as abortion and bioethics issues.Ratzinger will take the name Pope Benedict XVI.
The vote for Ratzinger is seen by many observers as a desire on the part of the world's Catholic cardinals to keep the Catholic Church's strong pro-life position against such practices as euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research.
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The Pro-Life Action League Released the following statement regarding Ratzinger's election:
The Pro-Life Action League is rejoicing over the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new pope of the Catholic Church. "Joseph Ratzinger has always been a great champion of the Culture of Life," said League National Director Joe Scheidler. "As Pope Benedict XIV he is sure to carry on the work of Pope John Paul II in defending the value of life, especially those who are most vulnerable: the unborn, aged and disabled."
Scheidler noted that as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger strongly supported American bishops who had the courage to stand up to pro-abortion Catholic politicians. He has spoken and written on both the dignity and value of the unborn child and society's responsibility to care for women with crisis pregnancies and to "reawaken a new love for children."
Scheidler is particularly touched by the new Holy Father's choice of the name Benedict XVI, since as a young man he spent several years as a Benedictine seminarian and monk. Scheidler and the League staff said prayers for the new Holy Father in the League's St. Joseph Chapel immediately after his name was announced.
Pope Benedict XVI will do much to continue the legacy of Pope John Paul the Great. Confidence in him is well deserved. I pray Benedict XVI will do for Germany what JPII did for Poland.