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HABEMVS PAPAM - BENEDICTVM XVI
19 April 2005 - We have a new Pope.
Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger was elected this
evening. He has chosen the name
Pope Benedict
XVI. May God bless and protect
him as he follows in the footsteps of Saint
Peter.
25 April 2005 - Inauguration Mass
Those
who believe are never alone neither in life
nor in death. At that moment,
we could call upon the Saints from every age his friends, his brothers
and sisters in the faith knowing that they would form a living procession
to accompany him into the next world, into the glory of God. We knew that
his arrival was awaited. Now we know that he is among his own and is truly
at home.
To read the full text of the homily given by Pope Benedict XVI at his Inauguration Mass, click here
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If we let Christ into our lives
we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free beautiful
and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only
in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed.
Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so today,
with great strength and great conviction
on the basis of a long personal experience of life, I say to you dear young
people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and he gives you
everything. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundredfold in return.
Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ, and you will find true life. Amen
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April 2005 - Response from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
In Benedict XVI we have a good man
who is going to be a good pope. The successor of St Peter is not a pastor
for one or another group but for the whole Church. Pope Benedict is - as
Cardinal Newman once said of a gentleman - one who "has eyes on all the company".
I think that this new Peter will have eyes on the whole company of the Church
and on the good of the future of the Church.
Pope Benedict has had great experience as a theologian. He has also served
as archbishop of one of the great sees of Catholic Germany. Over the years,
in my visits to him when he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, I have always found him to be intelligent, courteous, fair,
and an attentive listener.
In choosing the name of Benedict, he had in mind Benedict XV, pope in time
of world war, a dedicated reconciler and peacemaker. And he told the cardinals
that he intended his name to signify peace and reconciliation.
This will be a very prayerful, spiritual and intelligent papacy.
Shortly after his election, I knelt down and kissed his ring. I told the
new Pope that I brought with me the prayers and best wishes of the Catholics
of England and Wales. He asked me to give his warm greetings to all people
of England and Wales, and to assure them of his prayers.
Pope John Paul II, 1978 - 2005, R.I.P
The Lord once stood on the shore, Looking for people ready to follow him,
To fish for souls with God’s truth.
O Lord it was then you looked at me, Today your lips uttered my name.
I leave my boat on the shore. Today I start fishing with you anew.
I am a poor man, My only treasure – Willing hands, ready to work with you, And a pure heart.
You need my hands,
The Youthful zeal of my heart,
My drops of sweat, My solitude.
Today we start out together,
To fish for hearts on the sea of souls,
With your truth and life-giving word As the net.
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A brief biography.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International
Theological Commission, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16
April 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June
1951. His father, a police officer, came from a traditional family of farmers
from Lower Baviera. He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, and was
called into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World
War II.
From 1946 to 1951, the year in which he was ordained a priest and
began to teach, he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich
and at the higher school in Freising. In 1953 he obtained a doctorate in
theology with a thesis entitled: "The People and House of God in St. Augustine's
doctrine of the Church". Four years later, he qualified as a university teacher.
He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy
and theology of Freising, then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969, Münster from 1963
to 1966, Tubinga from 1966 to 1969.
From 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic
theology and of the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg and
Vice President of the same university.Already in 1962 he was well known when,
at the age of 35, he became a consultor at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop
of Cologne, Cardinal Joseph Frings. Among his numerous publications, a particular
post belongs to the Introduction to Christianity, a collection of university
lessons on the profession of apostolic faith, published
in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections
dedicated to the pastoral ministry, published in 1973.
In March 1977, Paul
VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on 28 May 1977 he was
consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years to take over the pastoral
ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.Created and proclaimed Cardinal by
Paul VI in the consistory of 27 June 1977. Titular churches, suburbicarian
see of Velletri-Segni (5 April 1993) and suburbicarian see of Ostia (30 November
2002).
On 25 November 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical Commission
and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission. Relator of the
5th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980).
President Delegate to
the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983). Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals,
6 November 1998.
On 30 November 2002, the Holy Father approved the election,
by the order of cardinal bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals. President
of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to the
Holy Father. Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera Università
Maria Santissima Assunta, 10 November 1999.
Honorary member of the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences, 13 November 2000.
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Lord, Source of eternal life and truth, give to
Your shepherd Benedict XVI a spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit
of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his
care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build
Your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
