Posted on 04/19/2005 3:27:57 PM PDT by lizol
Poles Greet Pope's Election With Optimism
2 hours, 45 minutes ago Europe - AP
By KRZYSZTOF KOPACZ, Associated Press Writer
WADOWICE, Poland - Still grieving for their native son John Paul II, people in his hometown of Wadowice on Tuesday saw his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, as someone who will follow in his conservative footsteps.
"Many people in Wadowice supported Cardinal Ratzinger, because he was so close to our pope and will continue his line," said Grazyna Goral, a 38-year old Wadowice bank employee.
"It's a very good choice," she said, adding that "the fact the new pope came from Germany could improve relations between our two nations."
Another Wadowice resident, a 24-year old university graduate, was more cautious, saying it would be difficult for Ratzinger to be a successor to the charismatic John Paul II.
"I'm not overly enthusiastic, but overall I guess it was the right choice," she said.
Father Jakub Gil, parish priest at Wadowice's Saint Mary's basilica where John Paul II was baptized and prayed as a boy, said the cardinals' quick decision meant Ratzinger was the right choice.
"Wadowice is very close to John Paul II, and in the name of this affection we accept the new pope with a warm heart and reverence as someone who represents Christ," Gil said.
"We want to go to the Vatican to pay him homage and ask to have John Paul II beatified as soon as possible."
Bells rang in many Polish churches, including the famous Sigmundus bell in the former pope's beloved Krakow, which rings only on very special occasions. Parliament broke its session for 20 minutes to allow lawmakers to watch the Vatican broadcast after speaker Donald Tusk made the announcement.
Initial reaction in overwhelmingly Catholic, socially conservative Poland was in some ways more enthusiastic than in Ratzinger's home country, the highly secular Germany.
In Warsaw, Malgorzata Rawiak, a 42-year-old film producer, praised Ratzinger's election and said he was "the candidate I rooted for."
"We like him because he follows the teachings of our pope. He is straightforward, sometimes even blunt and has strong moral values," Rawiak said.
Bishop Piotr Libera, Secretary General of the Polish Episcopate, expressed hope the new pope would "choose Poland as the place of his first foreign visit."
Ping
But I suspect many in the media and those who want a "progressive" Catholic church are deeply disappointed. I've heard comments about how they "must" choose someone who would allow women into the priesthood, or "must" choose someone more open to same-sex relationships, or "must" choose someone from a third world country (in other words, one of the Communist-leaning types) for the Church to survive. Oh, the wailing and gnashing of teeth that must be going on...
I a so pleased that Pope Benedict XVI is a close follower of Pope John Paul II. The world needs a moral stalwart.
Right, partner.
This new pope will continue the work of the late pope, catering to the needs of his flock, and not to the special interests.
To be blunt, the bulk of Roman Catholics are now in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and these are people not too much interested in issues such as gay marriage or women priests or pro-abortion nuns or married clergy.
These are people far more interested in the basic means of survival and growth; their need for "bread" outweighs the need of those in the affluent sometimes decadent west for "caviar."
It's all good. And whatever good comes from this particular papacy--and there is likely to be a lot of good--one can credit John Paul II for instigating it, beginning it, while others carry it on.
I see this is more of a continuation of John Paul II's legacy. May Pope Benedict XVI have a long reign.
Amen, FRiend...Amen.
I only wish he were 15 years younger.
I'm even more pleased that Pope Benedict XVI, like John Paul II, is a close follower of the Eternal Truth that is Jesus Christ.
I have only ONE thing to say to all those nay-sayers:
.
.
.
.
.
.
God bless our Holy Father Benedict XVI
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.