`Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me - a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.

`The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.

`In the joy of the risen Lord, trusting in his permanent help, we go forward. The Lord will help us and Mary his very holy mother stands by us.`

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