O’Malley Says New Pope Has His Prayers And Support

 Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley says in a statement that new Pope Francis has his ``faithful support.''

    The Boston Archdiocese released the statement Wednesday after the election of Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina.

    O'Malley said an increasingly secular world culture will benefit from Francis' ``witnessing Jesus' Call for us to love God and love one another.'' He said he prays that the Holy Spirit who led the cardinals to choose Bergoglio as their leader ``will guide him in witnessing the eternal truths of our faith.''

    O'Malley was the focus of buzz in Italian media before the papal election because of his pastoral Franciscan style and reputation for cleaning up clergy abuse scandals in three U.S. dioceses, including Boston. O'Malley downplayed the attention, saying he expected to use his round-trip ticket home to Boston.

Also, clergy sex abuse victim Bernie McDaid's says he's disappointed that Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley won't be the new pope.

    He says O'Malley's selection would have signaled a church ready to reckon with its sex abuse problem. But now he just sees a church more interested in uniting its hierarchy.    

    But former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn said the humble Argentine Jorge Bergoglio is in many ways similar to O'Malley. He said the heavy buzz around O'Malley gave the world a chance to know his good work.

    O'Malley wasn't considered a serious contender when he left for Rome. But his plain style and reputation for cleaning of dioceses plagued by sex abuse scandals caught attention.

    Boston College theology professor Thomas Groome said, at 68, O'Malley is still young enough to contend in the next conclave.  (Associated Press)