Pastor's
Message
On the election of the New Pope
"Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
"Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord."
Just after eleven o'clock this morning, St. Nicholas Church bells rang-out in unison will the bells of St. Peter's Basilica, as white smoke announced the papal election. Sharing in this joy, our parish gives thanks to the Lord for the election of Pope Benedict the Sixteenth.
Many people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, had heard about Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, perhaps Pope John Paul II's closest collaborator. Very few people, however, really knew the brilliant, holy and very humble man, who has now acceded to the Chair of Peter as the 265th Pope.
Cardinal Ratzinger has chosen "Benedict" as his papal name. In Latin, Benedictus means blessed. We can say that Pope Benedict is truly blessed because he comes to us in the name of the Lord. The Holy Father was born on April 16, feastday of St. Benedict Joseph du Labre. St. Benedict of Nursia is co-patron of Europe. The last Pope Benedict, the Fifteenth (1914-1922), was known as pope of peace. He worked tirelessly for peace during and after the First World War.
With the eyes of faith, the designs of the Holy Spirit can easily be traced in Pope Benedict's life. In 1927, Joseph Ratzinger was born into a very humble Bavarian family. In the 1930's the Nazi regime tried to re-create people in its own godless image. Instead, God chose Joseph, and many like him, to defend humanity, morally and spiritually. Both he and his brother have given their lives as priests, in service of the Lord's flock. Later, Joseph would be called to become the first German pope in almost a thousand years.
During the Second Vatican Council, Joseph Ratzinger assisted his archbishop (of Munich) as a "peritus" or theological expert. In 1977, he himself was appointed Archbishop of Munich and created a Cardinal the same year. From 1977-1982 he gained important experience, and was able to compare modern theological theories with the perennial spiritual and pastoral needs of his flock.
From 1982-2005, he served as Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I compare the Prefect's role to that of a structural engineer of the Church. The engineer can never be too lax and must keep close to the principles of engineering in order that no human lives are lost as a result of his failure to follow the rules. Cardinal Ratzinger realized that, in his position, he was not merely responsible for mere buildings or even human lives but for the care of souls.
Pope Benedict never sought the papacy; indeed, at the age of seventy-five, he submitted his resignation to the late Pope John Paul. The Holy Spirit was strongly at work in his appointment as Dean of the College of Cardinals, during a key moment in the Church. As Dean, it fell to him preach the homily at late Pope's funeral and again a homily to the Cardinals, at the beginning of the Conclave.
His peers very quickly elected him to the Chair of Peter, again, showing the powerful voice of the Holy Spirit, which their Eminences heeded. The joy of the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square was shared by millions around the world and by us.
Having met him several times and having spoken and prayed with him, I can testify that he is a sensitive, humble and, most-importantly, loving and prayerful man. May his strong faith in the Lord inspire each one of us and may clear teaching of Christ's Gospel challenge each of us in our earthly pilgrimage.
"Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis!"
Father Athanasius McVay, OSBM
April 19, 2005
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's arms. They bore an 