Pope, US bishops congratulate Obama on re-election

Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the president of the US bishops’ conference, have sent separate messages to President Barack Obama congratulating him on his re-election, Catholic Culture informs.

Pope Benedict assured the American president of his prayers, adding that he would pray too that the United States remains true to the ideals of the American founding.

Cardinal Dolan, too, assured President Obama of the prayers of the American bishops. The New York prelate encouraged Obama to “pursue the common good, especially in care of the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, and the immigrant.” He added that the president should work to “restore a sense of civility to the public order.”

Cardinal Dolan served notice on the president that the American hierarchy “will continue to stand in defense of life, marriage, and our first, most cherished liberty, religious freedom.”