Kibaki congratulates new Pope
Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (C) appears with cardinals at the window of St Peter's Basilica after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO
President Kibaki has congratulated Pope Francis on his election as the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.
The President wished God’s blessings to the new pontiff.
President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta also congratulated Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
"It is my joy on behalf of the Kenyan people and as a Catholic to congratulate Jorge Mario Bergoglio on his election as Pope Francis," said Mr Kenyatta.
"May you remain steadfast as you continue to champion those values that remind us all what is important and what is eternal," he said.
On Wednesday, the 76-year-old conservative emerged from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to the cry of “Habemus Papam!” (“We Have a Pope!”), as tens of thousands of pilgrims clambered over barriers and broke down in tears, overcome with emotion after suspenseful prayer vigils worldwide.
White smoke earlier billowed from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter’s Basilica rang out, signalling the election had taken place after five rounds of voting in the Vatican — one more than when Benedict XVI was elected in 2005.
