Posted on 04/19/2007 7:12:55 AM PDT by NYer
With around 500,000 filling St. Peter’s Square, the 265th Pontiff of the Catholic Church, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, was installed two years ago today. Following tradition, the new Pope was conferred the Fisherman’s Ring and a woolen pallium or shawl, both symbols of papal authority. Wearing golden vestments and clutching his pastoral staff, Pope Benedict XVI began the ceremony by walking into the area under St. Peter’s Basilica where St. Peter is believed to be buried, paying homage to the first pope and blessing the tomb with incense as a choir chanted.
Before various dignitaries that included heads of states, leaders of other religious congregations, and throngs of Catholic unfaithful, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the responsibility of leading the Catholic Church in all humility, stressing that in carrying out the role, he is not alone, as all the Saints of God are there to protect, sustain, and help him carry out his tasks.
During his installation, Pope Benedict XVI echoed his predecessor Pope John Paul II’s exhortation when the late pontiff assumed the Petrine ministry in 1978, "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!" In reiterating the message, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that in opening ourselves to Christ, He would definitely take away the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law, and the freedom to do as we please, but nonetheless leave intact or even bring back human freedom or dignity and build a just society. He continued: "If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen."
As we commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the assumption of the Petrine Ministry of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, we should heed his message to allow Christ to enter our lives, the well-spring of genuine fulfillment.
This and throngs of Catholic unfaithful
however, seemed a bit odd. :)
It was a great moment, indeed. I had just talked to my mom earlier that day (it’s her birthday). The kids and I were outside playing and she called my cellphone asking ‘Where are you? They’ve chosen the next Pope!’ After getting off the phone with her we went in for lunch and I put the TV on, called Mom back after lunch and we watched the announcement together.
I remember watching EWTN and was walking out to the kitchen, stopped,... and cried.
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