The Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Church, welcomed the election today of German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope, highlighting the new pontiff's choice of name -- Pope Benedict XVI. “He is a theologian of great stature, who has written some profound reflections on the nature of God and the church,” said Archbishop Rowan Williams, who like Ratzinger is renowned as one of Christianity's thinkers.

“His choice of the name Benedict suggests that he wants to connect his vision of the Church to the monastic spirit of service and contemplation.” Saint Benedict, born in Italy in the 5th century, founded the Benedictine monastic order. “We wish Pope Benedict XVI every blessing in the immense responsibilities he is about to assume on behalf of Roman Catholics round the world,” Williams said in a statement. “His election is also of great significance to Christians everywhere,” said the leader of the Church of England and the world's 70 million Anglicans.

“I look forward to meeting him and working together to build on the legacy of his predecessor, as we seek to promote shared understanding between our churches.”

The Archbishop made no reference to Ratzinger's reputation as a hardliner.

In 2000, Ratzinger branded other Christian churches as deficient -- shocking Anglicans, Lutherans and other Protestants who had been in ecumenical dialogue with Rome for years.