The Archbishop of Wales has congratulated Eluned Morgan on her appointment as the next First Minister of Wales, telling Premier Christian Radio she should "think the unthinkable about what Wales can become."
Eluned Morgan, who has been described as a "committed Christian", ran unopposed as the first female First Minister of Wales. Vaughan Gething stepped down as head of Welsh Labour last Tuesday, following the protest resignation of four members of his government.
The Most Rev Andrew John said: "I send my warm congratulations on behalf of the Church in Wales to Eluned Morgan who is set to be the next First Minister of Wales, subject to Senedd approval. As Christians, we assure her, the Welsh Government and all those taking part in public life, whatever their political party."
Rev John told Premier Christian Radio: "I think [Eluned] has a number of really serious challenges to face.
"Our hospitals are underperforming in Wales. We do need some attention given to that. Also, poverty levels in parts of Wales are just eyewateringly high. Attending to those, as well as our education, and the needs of our children, who are behind the UK average.
"But the most important thing is to engage the Welsh people in a conversation about what kind of society we want. What's the world in which we want to live in in Wales? And what do we need to do to achieve that now? Those are really big questions, and ones that the Church will resonate with very, very, strongly."
Morgan is married to Rhys Jenkins, a vicar and GP. She herself has a strong Christian faith.
Rev Andrew John said Eluned's faith "has informed her politics, and her decision to run for this role."
"She's there to represent all faiths, and none, and the whole of the people of Wales," he said.
"For people to believe that politics makes sense, they have to see the difference that they can have... Eluned's been surrounded by people. Ministry is essentially a people thing.
"So often, politics seems to be a top-down thing, divorced from the everyday concerns of people. [But] if she can almost think the unthinkable about what Wales might become as a society, she'll have done something extraordinarily powerful for women, [and] for those who have felt disadvantaged and deprived of a voice. I think those things are really important."