[NYer]

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivers the homily during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday April 18, 2005, as the cardinals who will elect a new pope made their last public appearance before sequestering themselves inside the Sistine Chapel later in the day. Ratzinger, the powerful dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily at the Mass dedicated to electing the next pope to warn cardinals and the faithful about tendencies that he considered dangers to the faith: sects, ideologies like Marxism, liberalism, atheism, agnosticism and relativism.

[NYer]

Cardinals walk in procession during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday April 18, 2005, in their last public appearence before sequestering themselves inside the Sistine Chapel later in the day. Thousand of pilgrims and tourist packed St. Peter's Basilica and the square to take a last glimpse of the cardinals who will elect the next head of the Roman Catholic Church during the conclave. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

"I slept well, and now my ideas are clear," French Cardinal Paul Poupard said as he headed into the Mass. "I have realized the seriousness of the election. The Holy Spirit will do the rest."

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[starfish923]

Cardinal Ratzinger was the Grand Inquisitor for John Paul II and thus a guardian of Catholic doctrine.

“the dictatorship of relativism”

This is the biggest falling away from Christ's path. He is absolutely correct.

[ELS]

In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction

The reporter conveniently left out the enthusiastic applause from the faithful in attendance.

[FatherofFive]

I wish Ratzinger was younger. He could be a great leader for a short time -- and keep the American bishops on the road back to orthodoxy.

[AbeKrieger]

Ratzinger is making the hard sell. He'll be the early leading vote-getter but if he's not over 51% of the vote in the first three, four ballots, this support will wane.

I think South/Latin America is getting this one.

[Dogrobber]

Cardinal R. is hated by liberal American Catholics, the very same who were just waiting for John Paul II to die - and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

American liberal Catholics have not liked where the Church has been going. They want homosexual priests, married priests, abortion, female priests, homosexual marriage and "liberation" Catholocism. I view these folks as wanting to destroy the very thing that makes my Church a living and breathing connection to our Savior - obviously I oppose what they support.

I don't know who will be Pope. Ratzinger would be good because he would call the American Church to heel, a thing that John Paul II did in some respects- but not to the extent that is necessary. Lay Catholics in America understand that a large part of our current troubles, abusive priests and the lack of priests, arise from the liberization of Church in the 60's and 70's. It was then that this offensive idea of "chaste" homosexuals becoming priests was accepted by the Religious in the Church. Many traditional Catholic men seeking the priesthood were blackballed because they would not accept homosexuality within the clergy.

[Aquinasfan]

relativism “recognizes nothing definitive and its final measure is no more than ego and desire.”

Ratzinger rocks!

In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction

Do cardinals usually applaud during homilies? It's never happened at any Mass that I've been to.

[Salvation]

(LIVE THREAD) The Papal Conclave, Interregnum, Cardinals, Conclave Facts, Prayer and other links

[Preachin']

Something tells me that Ratzinger would have the guts to excommunicate pro-abortion politicians.