We've been watching the coverage of World Youth Day over the weekend and it has been so inspiring. There are highlights from the closing Mass homily over at Aggie Catholics Blog. Also check out the photos and video from the live Stations of the Cross.
to our Holy Papa!
Keep up with the latest at Pope 2008.com
Here's some thoughts on the election of Benedict XVI from Brian:
On April 2, 2005, the world said goodbye to Pope John Paul II. Seventeen days later the world greeted a new Pope, Benedict XVI.
I must admit that I was surprised when I saw Cardinal Ratzinger on the balcony of St. Peter's waving to the crowds. The Holy Spirit moves in mysterious and hidden ways.
My surprise slowly turned into happiness and joy. How blessed we are to have a man seated on the chair of St. Peter who is a defender of the faith. Just like his predecessor, John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI understands the cosmic war we are engaged in and has great insight into the signs of the times.
I know there are many people, including homosexual groups, feminist organizations and liberal Catholics, who are upset about Cardinal Ratzinger being elected Pope. One week has not even passed since his election and already newspapers, television networks and journals are attacking him.
Of course, this is very sad, but I am sure many of you are not surprised by it. Just as John Paul II had to carry the cross of sickness in the final days of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI must carry the cross of rejection. However, I believe Pope Benedict will pick up where John Paul left off and continue to cultivate the new evangelization.
By taking the name Benedict, the Pope will focus on three things. First, educate the Catholic population in the truths of the faith. Second, help the faithful deepen their relationship with Christ. Third, continue to restore the Catholic culture.
As John Paul led Eastern Europe out of the darkness of communism, Pope Benedict will lead the European continent out of the darkness of spiritual indifference and secularism. I believe Pope Benedict will not only surprise us, but will guide us, through his witness and example, closer to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless.
There's plenty to discover in Pope Benedict's Papal Coat of Arms.
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Pope Benedict XVI's first full-length message, which he read in Latin at the end of a Eucharistic concelebration with members of the College of Cardinals. He presided over the Mass Wednesday morning in the Sistine Chapel - "A Church That � Has No Fear of the Future".
Thanks to Amy Welborn at Open Book for the post about today's General Audience.
"Resuming the Wednesday general audiences," he went on, "I wish to speak of the name I chose on becoming bishop of Rome and pastor of the universal Church. I chose to call myself Benedict XVI ideally as a link to the venerated Pontiff, Benedict XV, who guided the Church through the turbulent times of the First World War. He was a true and courageous prophet of peace who struggled strenuously and bravely, first to avoid the drama of war and then to limit its terrible consequences. In his footsteps I place my ministry, in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples, profoundly convinced that the great good of peace is above all a gift of God, a fragile and precious gift to be invoked, safeguarded and constructed, day after day and with everyone's contribution."The name Benedict also evokes the extraordinary figure of the great 'patriarch of western monasticism,' St. Benedict of Norcia, co-patron of Europe with Cyril and Methodius. The progressive expansion of the Benedictine Order which he founded exercised an enormous influence on the spread of Christianity throughout the European continent. For this reason, St. Benedict is much venerated in Germany, and especially in Bavaria, my own land of origin; he constitutes a fundamental point of reference for the unity of Europe and a powerful call to the irrefutable Christian roots of European culture and civilization."
The Pope appealed to St. Benedict for help "to hold firm Christ's central position in our lives. May he always be first in our thoughts and in all our activities!"
Before concluding, Benedict XVI announced that, just as at the beginning of his pontificate John Paul II had continued the reflections on Christian virtues begun by Pope John Paul I, in coming weekly audiences he would resume "the comments prepared by John Paul II on the second part of the Psalms and Canticles, which are part of Vespers. From next Wednesday, I will begin precisely from where his catechesis was interrupted after the general audience of January 26."
The Holy Father read out brief summaries of his catechesis, which he had delivered in Italian, in various other languages: English, French, Spanish and German. He then gave brief greetings to various groups in Croatian, Slovenian and Polish and concluded by addressing the 1,000 faithful from the archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia, Italy, who were accompanied by Archbishop Riccardo Fontana.
Raw Video Feed here (scroll down; click) with some snippets of riding in the Popemobile, speaking in Italian, English, German and Spanish.
Welcome, Our New Papa! - Benedict XVI
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