Catholic bishops in the US have welcomed the election of Joe Biden as 46th President of the United States, the second Catholic to hold the office.
They also congratulated Kamala Harris, the first woman ever to become vice-president.
Speaking as street parties and celebrations took place across the US and worldwide, Archbishop of Los Angeles José Gomez president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: “The American people have spoken in this election. Now is the time for our leaders to come together in a spirit of national unity and to commit themselves to dialogue and compromise for the common good.”
As Catholics and Americans, the priorities and mission are clear, he continued. “We are here to follow Jesus Christ, to bear witness to His love in our lives, and to build His Kingdom on earth. I believe that at this moment in American history, Catholics have a special duty to be peacemakers, to promote fraternity and mutual trust, and to pray for a renewed spirit of true patriotism in our country.”
Donald Trump has continued to contest the result and threaten legal action in a series of tweets, many in capital letters.
But Archbishop Gomez said: “Democracy requires that all of us conduct ourselves as people of virtue and self-discipline. It requires that we respect the free expression of opinions and that we treat one another with charity and civility, even as we might disagree deeply in our debates on matters of law and public policy.”
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Donald Trump, pictured returning to the White House last night after a day on the golf course. Chris Kleponis/PA
Biden, a committed Catholic who attends Mass every week that he can pledged to “restored the soul of America”.
Speaking in Wilmington after the result was called, he said: “I am honoured and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in vice president-elect Harris. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”
He quoted his favourite hymn, On Eagle's Wings, by Michael Joncas and based on Psalm 91, Exodus 19 and Matthew 13. The hymn is Catholic but is also popular in non-Catholic churches.
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