Posted on 04/25/2005 6:00:12 AM PDT by JustaCowgirl
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Grinning and cracking jokes, Pope Benedict on Monday shed the stress of his election and inauguration for a jubilant audience with several thousand fellow Germans at the Vatican.
The 78-year-old Bavarian seemed almost overcome by joy and stagefright as he strode down the aisle of the Paul VI audience hall waving to the crowds amid flashing cameras and pilgrims straining to shake his hand or kiss his ring.
A shy man thrust into the limelight by his election last Tuesday, he drew laughter and applause when he apologised for arriving late from an inter-religious meeting.
"Germans are known for being punctual -- it seems I've become a bit of an Italian," he joked.
He also recounted with a sly smile that he had begged God not to make him Pope as successive ballots in the secret conclave showed it was likely that "the guillotine would fall" on him.
"God clearly didn't listen to me," he remarked with a sigh.
The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger celebrated his inaugural Mass on St. Peter's Square on Sunday in Latin and Italian according to Vatican protocol, disappointing some of the many thousands of Germans who had come specially for the day.
STILL A BAVARIAN
Remarking on all the Bavarian flags he saw in the audience hall, he reassured them he had kept his roots despite 23-1/2 years working as the Vatican's doctrinal authority in Rome.
"I've stayed a Bavarian, even as Bishop of Rome," he said.
The crowds loved it. "He was less hard then before," said Rolf Croisier, a Latin teacher from Freiburg who took 75 students to the audience. "He was good, making jokes."
Earlier on Monday, Benedict held a more formal meeting with leaders of other religions who had attended his inauguration.
Renewing calls made from the start of his papacy, he urged other Christian churches to work with him for unity. He also mentioned Muslims for the first time, praising dialogue with them as a valuable contribution to true peace in the world.
Later on Monday, the Pope was due to pay homage at the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle in the southern suburbs of Rome.
The pilgrimage to the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls will be the first time the new Pontiff has made an official foray outside the tiny Vatican City state since his election on April 19.
APPEAL TO YOUTH
Benedict entered last week's conclave as one of the presumer frontrunners, but he told the Germans:
"As slowly the balloting showed me that, so to speak, the guillotine would fall on me, I got quite dizzy. I had thought I had done my life's work and could now hope for a peaceful end of my days.
"So with deep conviction, I told the Lord: 'Don't do this to me! You have younger and better men, who can do this work with a very different verve and strength'. In this situation ... the Lord clearly did not listen to me."
At the same time, he said another cardinal slipped him a note reminding him that, in his sermon at John Paul's funeral, he had quoted Jesus Christ telling St. Peter -- the first pope -- to follow him.
"Remember what you preached and don't refuse," he quoted the cardinal as telling him. After a well-timed delay, he added: "So in the end, I had no choice but to say yes."
Benedict assured youths in the audience he would attend the World Youth Day Catholic jamboree scheduled for August in Cologne, Germany.
In an apparent reference to his reputation as a stern defender of Catholic orthodoxy before becoming Pope, he then asked for their trust.
"I appeal for your indulgence if I make mistakes, like any person does, or if some things that the Pope has to say and do on the basis of his conscience or the conscience of the Church seem hard to understand."
yeah, it is hard to tell given the lack of quoted context in the article.
I thought I liked him and had a deep respect for him and his allegiance to and understanding of Church teaching, but now... The more I learn about Pope Benedict XVI, the more I love and respect him. He really was the best choice for the job.
"The liturgy is not a show, a spectacle, requiring brilliant producers and talented actors," said Benedict. "The life of the liturgy does not consist in 'pleasant' surprises and attractive 'ideas' but in solemn repetitions."
Amen.
Picture at Post 27. Business as usual.
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.