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„Porqué corrieron“, es el titulo de un articulo en un diario prestigioso. Con asombra, el mundo periodístico nota que la gente con entusiasmo se dirige al nuevo Papa... “Why they ran” is the title of an article in a web-known newspaper. With astonishment and disbelief, the world of journalism notes that people turn to the new Pope in joy “Warum sie rannten” lautet der Titel eines Artikels in einer bekannten Zeitung. Mit ungläubigem Staunen nimmt die journalistische Welt wahr, dass der Wind sich gedreht hat und hemmungslose Kritik von gestern ist. |
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La Peregrina saluda al nuevo Papa The Pilgrim Mother greets the new Pope Die Pilgernden Gottesmutter grüßt den Papst |
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Edición especial del Osservatore Romano Special Edition of the Osservatore Romano Sonderausgabe des Osservatore Romano Fotos: Abram © 2005 |
ROMA, Father Alberto Eronti. "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope)...it seems that never before had so many persons , from St. Peter's square or on TV or PC screens, watched at the same towards the same chimney and heard the same two words Habemus Papam!
On the 18th of April I did not go to the Square, I followed the procession of the electoral Cardinals toward the Sistine Chapel by television, it was the only good way to see and accompany everything that was happening. Observing the Cardinals I had two intense sentiments: what a responsibility! what solitude! It is true that electors were supported by the prayer of the Church and the spiritual accompaniment of millions of persons. However, at the hour of voting, each Cardinal is alone before his conscience and God. God places the Church in the hands of men who he has chosen and called, but they are still human beings. God "surrenders" himself to man and man must "surrender himself" to the Spirit. When the doors closed, I felt it was time for prayer and for for waiting.
A multitude in St. Peter's Square
Yesterday, April 19th in the morning I also decided not to go to the St. Peter's Square, I felt that it was still not the time. After the black smoke at noon, I told myself, "now we are entering a probable time." At 4:50 p.m. I was there, at that time there were about 15 thousand people, but the arrival of others was constant, it seemed as if "it were known" that this was the time signaled by the Spirit. In a short while Father Fernando Baeza called me, he had found two empty chairs on the first row, that is how we were able to situate ourselves in a very good way. We dedicated time to prayer, which many people who surrounded us were doing, there was a certain nervous and moderate joy, the atmosphere was not one of euphoria but of serene waiting. I was totally conscious that I also had a multitude that I carried in my heart. Like when I was able to pray with Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's, I thought about all those who had wanted to be in the Square. Everyone was looking at the most famous chimney of the world waiting for the "white cloud".
The wait had ended
All of a sudden an exclamation, smoke was coming out of the chimney. White? Black? The cloudy sky may it difficult to see the color of the smoke well and on the TV screen, the white was confused with a sort of maroon.The bells were silent. However, the applause was repeated and "Habemus Papam"! could be heard. Doubt continued for about 15 minutes, until the sound of the bells of the Basilica, burst into the Plaza and was echoed by thunderous applause. In the meantime those who were waiting inside St. Peter's were asked to leave and the doors were closed. While we waited, a sea of people filled the Square and three fourths of the Via della Conciliazione, it was an unusual sight; only 40 minutes passed since the ringing of the bells of the Roman churches began, and thousands and were gathered in the Cathedral of the World. Finally the door of the balcony of the Basilica opened and the hanging tapestry with the coat of arms of Pope John Paul II was hung. Then Cardinal Medina from Chile, announced to the world: "Habemus Papam!". When he pronounced the name of "Joseph" he paused and as if an echo "Ratzinger" "Ratzinger" was spontaneously repeated. When his name was made known, the multitude shouted in chorus: "Benedict!" "Benedict!"
Family Joy
The appearance of Benedict XVI was an explosion of joy, the wait had ended and the Church could see and hear the Vicar of Christ, Shepherd and Master. When he spoke, the first thing was a reference to John Paul II. Then he presented himself as an unworthy worker in the Vineyard of the Lord, in conclusion he asked for the prayers of everyone and he entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary. He looked small at the side of his two assistants who were clearly taller than him, as if irradiating a certain fraility, perhaps so the words of St. Paul could be fulfilled: "God chose the weak, to confound the strong". Everything ended 10 minutes later with the first blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world). He bid farewell raising his arms leaving a serene joy in the Church. The family has its father again.
Mature faith in the fascination for Christ
What do we say? How do we interpret this election? The media from all the world registered different and also mixed opinions. I believe the first thing the simple act of faith in the number one "Elector": the Spirit. Everything that is said about the decision of the Cardinals is only groundless hypothesis without proof. What we do know is that during the funeral novena of John Paul II the Cardinals - all of them electors or not - met to dialogue about the situation of the Church and the world. This reflection is also what oriented the profile of the future Pope. I believe what was said in those meetings is not different from the homily of Monday, the 18th, that opened the Conclave. In it the new Pope left, I believe, some clues to take into account. In the first part, he spoke about the mercy of God. But, the Christ, who is the mercy of God, who places limits on evil. This mercy is manifested in the person of Jesus. To encounter
Christ is to encounter mercy. But, the Christ is is the mercy of the Father, is also "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (Jn. 14,16). There is no adult faith if it does not take in Christ wholly. And this it seems is the "point" to which the Church must respond in this future that has begun with Benedict XVI: we are in a time of profound relativism ofexistence. The new Pope spoke of "dictorship of relativism", in which the I of man is at the center. Christ is not the center, but man and his subjectivism. What does this produce? amutilated faith, an incomplete Christ: the tripod lacks Truth. Man wants to live his life and walk his way, but Christ is not the norm of his being or doing. It seems that the Spirit wants to complete what is lacking of the primary project that John Paul II designed in the Encylical: "Christ, Redeemer of Man". The centrality of Christ! The passion for Christ! The fascination for Christ!
Founded on the rock of Truth
The Church can only dialogue with all men and cultures from this foundation. Founded on the rock of Truth, that is the Lord, the Church can and should open itself to all. Without love of the truth which is Jesus, the work of the Church would be based on sand and we know that nothing solid is based on sand. The sand of relativism has to be overcome by the Truth which is the measure of man and his glory. I believe something about this is in Benedict XVI's "program, and in the contributions of the College of the Cardinals.
I conclude with a quotation of Father Kentenich: "Humanity has lost its center of gravity. What is the center of gravity? It is the living God and the order of being and of the objective life designed and created by God, that is to say, the eternal law".
Sunday will be a feast. This time the Square of the world will celebrate Benedict XVI, who will assume as Pope before the Church and the world. After the feast the task symbolized by the chosen name: Benedict. It is a symbol, St. Benedict is called the Father of the West". Yes, the name indicated the mission, we know what mission the new Pope has taken upon his shoulders. Like our Founder, let us say to him: "Father, we go with you!"
Write to the new Pope: benedictxvi@vatican.va
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA