The head of East Yorkshire's Catholic community, Bishop Terence Drainey has expressed his "great joy and delight" at the election of Pope Francis I.
Bishop Drainey, who is currently in Rome, said: "The election of Pope Francis I is an expression of the Holy Spirit working to renew and enliven the Church.
"Pope Francis I comes from Argentina and is the first non-European pope in a thousand years. He is the first member of the Society of Jesus, the first Jesuit, to be the successor of St. Peter.
"Also, this is the first time that a pope has chosen the name of 'Francis', a saint recognised by all Christians and non-Christians alike and who is associated with the ideals of simplicity and poverty.
"As well as St Francis of Assisi, there is another great saint with that name, Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary."
"Our new Holy Father trained as a scientist and has a master's degree in chemistry. He was also a professor of theology. We join in prayer with the whole Catholic world begging Almighty God to bless Pope Francis I with all the gifts that he needs to guide the Church in the way of the Gospel and to inspire us all to seek the Lord through the gifts of our faith and reason."
