Skopje, 9 May 2025 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi has congratulated Friday the election of new Pontiff of the Roman-Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV.

"In the spirit of Pope Leo XIV's first address to the Catholic faithful, I express hope that the new Pope brings more spirituality and greater ethics, and that his work be a guide on the path to peace, religious tolerance and mutual understanding among peoples - as the only right path for the salvation and progress of the world, which today is increasingly facing the challenges of conflicts and strife," said Gashi. 

The new head of the Catholic Church was elected on Thursday after just 24 hours of conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

Photo: MIA archive