Posted on 04/19/2005 10:04:34 AM PDT by protest1
Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany Is New Pope
Europe - AP
By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a hard-line guardian of conservative doctrine, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI and called himself "a simple, humble worker."
Ratzinger, the first German pope since the 11th century, emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where he waved to a wildly cheering crowd of tens of thousands and gave his first blessing as pope. Other cardinals clad in their crimson robes came out on other balconies to watch him.
"Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me — a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord," he said. "I entrust myself to your prayers," the pope said.
The crowd responded by chanting "Benedict! Benedict!"
Ratzinger served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. He turned 78 on Saturday.
The new pope had gone into the conclave with the most buzz among two dozen leading candidates. He had impressed many faithful with his stirring homily at the funeral of John Paul II, who died April 2 at age 84.
I had just sat down to have a cup of coffee, switched on the TV and was in time to see the announcement that a new Pope had been elected. Then a short wait till the name was announced. I figured it had to be Ratzinger they had a quick, two day, vote.
That was a deal that Hitler made with the church, if I'm informed correctly. And it does royally p- off some Catholic lay people in Germany. I know because I have in-laws who are Catholic and married to Germans. The German state taxes are high enough, then along comes the Church with a fixed amount they deduct from you.
I had dismissed him, as well as Tettamanzi(?) as too obvious a choice. The old ' go in a Pope...' thing.
Glad I was wrong now that I am reading more about Ratzinger.
We need a strong Pope with a clear sense of identity and a fearlessness in facing evil.
I pray God that Pope Benedict XVI is it, and that the Lord has sent us what we need.
May God Bless and protect him.
Good choice, nicely done!
You're comparing apples to oranges. The previous post said that the government in Germany takes mandatory tithes out for those who are official church members. That has nothing to do with your church or any other American church where membership carries no government-enforced financial obligation. Perhaps some Germans attend and give to churches without being official members because they don't want the government taking (more of) their money. Your church may not have a problem with membership and tithing, but your church isn't operating under a government-enforced tithe system.
If the German youth of that era wanted their family to eat they were enrolled the Youth.
They would "hail" and "celebrate" Hermann Goerring if he toed the official "liberal" line.
Not testifying to the validity of Malachy - just pointing out what it said on the website.
http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp
Fox News just interviewed a guy from California who is studying in the same university that JP II studied in. He was going on about the excitement and euphoria. He then made the following statement that REALLY bothers me:
"The Pope holds the same place as Christ on earth."
Am I the only one with a problem with this philosophy?
I was going to post the same thing. Tonight, I might actually watch Chris Matthews just to watch him bitch and moan about the selection.
Well get ready the next Pope will be one of those you mentioned.
Ratzinger is a care-taker Pope at best.
I'm a Protestant but happy to see this rebuke to the mad secularists of the EU. I wonder if this is what the cardinals had in mind?
I sauntered over to DU to check it out. I don't think I have ever seen such foul language used in the same sentence as the word Pope. Those folks are very sick puppies.
As a nonCatholic, I honestly don't care who leads the Catholic Church., liberal or conservative, either or, all they are is a figurehead for that church...la
That type of language is normally a sign of the dark one in action...he stays very busy over there...
Wall Street likes it !
The idiot liberals are already saying that he's "just a placeholder", and are undoubtedly speculating on how long he's likely to live. They have to do this off camera so they won't be seen counting on their fingers.
May God bless the Pope Benedict XVI and grant him a very long and effective reign!
The Pope represents Christ. He's His vicar, His place-holder. It doesn't mean the Catholic Church views popes as divine or worthy of worship. She doesn't.
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