Congratulations to the new Pope

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has sent a message of congratulations to the new Pope Benedict XVI who was elected, Tuesday, as the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

In his quality of Commander of Faithful and chairman of Al-Qods Al-Charif (Jerusalem) Committee, the monarch voiced willingness to work with the new Pope to consecrate justice, equality and coexistence among all the peoples of the world "without distinction in terms of faith or culture notably in the Middle East."

The sovereign said "this (Middle East)region is the cradle of celestial religions that were revealed to promote the noble human ideals and defend justice and right in the world." He voiced confidence the new Pope will deploy all his efforts for the good of Christianity and for promoting the values of coexistence between civilisations.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the first German Pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The 78 year-old cardinal succeeds to John Paul II, who died April 2 at age 84.