  |
||||||
|
The crowd came and a band showed up but there was no dancing in the streets. When the church bells rang out all across Rome about 5:50 PM the sprint began for a spot in St. Peter's Square. From the Metro stop closest to St. Peter's, people spilled over the sidewalks into the streets. Tourist sneakers, fashionable Italian high heels, Franciscan sandals - all hitting the streets in quick tempo; horns honked madly as the police kept the crowd moving and cars at bay. Even as the crowd was running towards St. Peter's Square accompanied by the church bells of Rome, there were comments of worry over a quick decision. The Palantine Guard band was an interesting escort through the columns of the Bernini colonnade. The announcement of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's election as Pope Benedict XVI was greeted with a mixture of enthusiasm and silence in St. Peter's Square. The applause was full, but not prolonged. A man from the Congo stood on my left, a nun from Italy on my right. In this line, there was no applause. The nun and her companion left while the new pope was speaking. It happened in other parts of the Square also. When the sampetrini (the men who were the casket bearers at Pope John Paul II’s funeral) came to retrieve the papal tapestry, some in the Square mistook the movement for a return of the new pope and began clapping then realizing their mistake began shouting “Come Out.” No one came. A huge banner was unfurled in the front of the Square at the beginning of the announcement. It said “Peace” in several languages. After the new pope's departure, three young men opened a banner midway in the Square. It read in English: No Martini - No Party (Cardinal Carlo Martini the former Cardinal of Milan was considered a candidate). I spoke with a variety of people in the Square. The reactions were varied: A couple from Holland commented they thought it was too soon after the Second World War to have a German pope; two Americans studying at the Angelicum said they were Ratzinger fans; and an Italian father holding his young daughter's hand said it wasn't his choice but he would wait and see and have hope. The crowd spilled back into the Roman streets. For a crowd, it was fairly quiet. On the way back to the Metro, souvenir pictures of Pope John Paul II were selling well for street-side vendors. One quick shop owner displayed a picture of Cardinal Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict XVI - flanked by Pope John Paul II pictures. Tonight Benedict XVI slept in Saint Martha's Guesthouse after dinner with the cardinals. Tomorrow he moves to the Apostolic Palace. The days of watching smoke signals has ended. The days of watching papal signals has begun. Statement from Rome, Kristine Ward, Vice President, Voice of the Faithful upon the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI Voice of the Faithful calls on Pope Benedict XVI to hold an international meeting of survivors of clergy sexual abuse. As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the new pope should be very familiar with the defrocking cases for priests who abused children and minors. The cases are sent to this Congregation and have been on a slow track. The new pope could easily make this a fast track. The words of Pope John Paul II must become reality, “There is no room in the priesthood for those who would harm the young.” The investigation of the founder of the Legion of Christ, Father Marciel Marcial, needs to be completed with all deliberate speed. This investigation was shut down several years ago but within the last few months was re-opened. In keeping Pope John Paul II’s appointment to meet with the youth of the world in Cologne, Pope Benedict XVI can signal the beginning of the rebuilding of trust by holding bishops accountable for their actions in the crisis. We would hope that the new pope would enthusiastically seek to talk with laity in a full and vital discussion of the issues that affect the Church.
|
||
| |