I was very touched by his reaction to the notice of his elevation.
“On receiving the letter [from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone] I straight away went to St. Peter’s Basilica, to Peter’s tomb and I knelt down and prayed,” the prelate said. “And then I spent an hour at the tomb of Blessed John Paul II, who in fact appointed me as bishop in 2001, at the age of 42. Then after praying the rosary there I went to St. Mary Major, this is a place that gives me a lot of consolation, strength and confidence where I can pray unnoticed by anyone.”
When I read the list of those to be elevated at that consistory, I suspected the Holy Father was up to something. Now, looking back on that day, it becomes obvious that he had already planned to step down and wanted these voices added to the conclave to elect his successor. God bless our German pope! He is methodical and logical : - )