AtonementOnline.com

By Catherine Smibert

ROME, APRIL 28, 2005 (Zenit.org).- As the world gets acquainted with
Benedict XVI, I have had a chance to catch up with some who shared his
life
closely over the past few weeks -- the cardinal electors who
participated in
the conclave.

Cardinal Christoph Sch�nborn of Vienna, Austria, for instance, said he
felt
"an immense gratitude to God and gratefulness to the Holy Father that
he has
accepted the burden of this election. . I am sure it will be a very
great
pontificate."

The cardinal spoke as he left the gate next to the building that houses
the
Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, whose prefect was Cardinal
Joseph
Ratzinger, now the 265th Roman Pontiff.

Asked about the Pope's selection of the name Benedict, the Austrian
prelate
explained how the Holy Father himself told the cardinals the reasons
behind
it.

"He told us how, as Benedict XV was the Pope of peace in a time of war,
that
peace is one message this name brings," said Cardinal Sch�nborn, 60.

"Then there's St. Benedict, the father of the monks and the patron of
Europe -- the man who said that we have to order all things to Christ
and
direct all things in our life to him," he added. "Therefore, I think
that
this name says that he is blessed, a 'benedictus,' and a blessing for
us."

Cardinal James Stafford, major penitentiary of the Church, said having
a new
Pope was like having a father again.

"With the death of Pope John Paul II, the whole Church felt the absence
of
their universal father and now with Pope Benedict XVI, our father has
returned and we rejoice, giving thanks to God in Jesus for that
wonderful
gift," said the 72-year-old American cardinal.

He too agrees that a Benedict XVI may be just what Europe needs.

"The tragedy of Europe is rooted in the eclipse of the Christian
identity of
individual Europeans and their society as a whole," Cardinal Stafford
said.
"Unfortunately that is being repeated in the EU. There is a kind of
Christophobia, a fear of Christ, not just a withdrawal from him. .

"Pope Benedict will be able to bring to the people of Europe a new,
rediscovered sense of the dignity of what it means to be a child of God
--�
to have been chosen by God in Christ to be his child."

But Cardinal Stafford insists that Benedict XVI's scope will not be
limited
to Europe. And a fellow U.S. cardinal, Archbishop Francis George of
Chicago,
agrees.

"This is a man who has a huge sense of history," said Cardinal George,
68.
He recalled Benedict XVI's words: "I too hope in this short reign to be
a
man of peace and to be able to see to it that the world will be spared
any
future wars."

On issues of war and peace, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia,
said
that just in having a Pope of German nationality means "World War II is
over
and completely over."

To have this man follow in the footsteps of another whose homeland was
almost annihilated by Germany denotes that "we now look forward to the
future with the hope of reconciliation," said Cardinal Pell.

I asked Cardinal Pell what he thought of what secular media described
as the
"unexpected responses of joy and satisfaction and support" from the
young in
St. Peter's Square when the name of the new Pope was announced.

The cardinal replied: "Many of the young people today who are keen
followers
or keen members of the Church, have been out and about and have
rejected the
alternatives.

"The Christ that they're following in the Church is the Christ of the
Gospels. And they recognize in the new Pope, as they did in the
previous
one, someone who is deeply committed to explaining what Christ is about
and
trying to bring Christ to them. I hope that with this new Pope, they
will
find him to be not just a teacher but, what the old Eastern traditions
in
the Church used to call a father. That is, someone who is a source of
wisdom, somebody to be admired, someone to be followed.

More excitement from the youth came as Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his
intent to attend World Youth Day in Cologne.

Cardinal Pell analyzed this response also: "It's not someone who will
just
give an intellectual answer like a set of mathematical equations. I
hope and
pray and think it will be true, that in this very different personality
of
Benedict XVI, young people will find a leader whom they can love and
they
can follow."

Another major theme underlying this pontificate is ecumenism.

A cardinal deeply involved in ecumenical dialogue is the archbishop of
Westminster, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, 72. He sees much hope in Benedict
XVI.

"I believe he's been very open, so I don't think anyone should have any
worries about the ecumenical route -- it will continue, no doubt at
all,"
the British cardinal said. "From my point of view, Pope Benedict XVI
will
continue on the ecumenical road from which I often say there's no
exit."

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of South Africa summed up the sentiments he
says
have been shared among the cardinals with regard to their selection of
Pope
over the past weeks.

"After many synods," said the 64-year-old archbishop of Durban, "I
would
have to say that . it was only in these recent times that one got to
see how
the man can operate at such a different level and how as dean of the
cardinals [he] responded so well to any requests or suggestions that
were
made about how we should be actually handling the various
congregations,
etc.

"His conduct was admirable throughout and . we already saw how
excellently
he led us through the days preceding the conclave."

Cardinal Napier believes that among the compliments he heard, one of
the
greatest came after the Monday Mass prior to the conclave:

"A fellow cardinal said, 'That must have been one of the most spiritual
experiences I've had for a long, long time.' Once again it was due to
Cardinal Ratzinger's wonderfully gentle, approachable style."

* * *

Guten Tag Rom!

Pilgrims continue to flock to Rome, but this time the flags have
changed.

The distinct colors of black, red and yellow have been flying high as
German
Catholics have flocked into Italy in the days after the election of
"their"
Pope.

Ready to meet and greet these determined faithful is the German
Pilgrimage
Center, located just at the top of the main street leading from St.
Peter's
Square -- Via della Conciliazione, 51.

Begun by Monsignor Antonio Tedesco over 30 years ago, the center aims
to
offer an "open door to people visiting the area of St. Peter's,
especially
the German community, to bring their questions, hopes and confusions."

An Italian priest who loves German culture and had been a longtime
friend of
Cardinal Ratzinger's, Monsignor Tedesco has been pleased by the flood
of
visitors.

"There has been almost an invasion of German-speaking people, which is
good,
because we have problems of faith and division in Austria, Switzerland
and
Germany," said Monsignor Tedesco, whose last name means "German." "I
believe
in relying on the providence of God and I see his hand in this time."

"I'm also enjoying the possibility to shed some light on the great
personality of this Pope, my friend, to those who have a different
image of
him," the priest said as he showed me photos of himself and the future
Benedict XVI together throughout the years.

An aide at the center, Christian Meia, showed me other photos plus the
center's Web site.

"I see it all as a great opportunity to evangelize," he said of the new
papacy. "I'm finding that these people do not just want directions to
their
hotels but tickets to papal audiences and the like."

It is thus with a great sense of anticipation that the young Germans
working
in Rome look ahead to the World Youth Day in Cologne. "We just pray
that
through these meetings with this Pope of German origin," Meia said,
"the
true values of Christ will spread across the earth."

* * *

Cardinal Ratzinger on . Himself

Vatican Radio has been conceding to a multitude of requests to
rebroadcast
an interview it did with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger after the
publication of
his 2001 book "God and the World."

Asked to paint himself in words, the then cardinal said: "A
self-portrait
would be impossible. It's difficult to judge oneself. All I can say is
that
I come from a very simple and humble family and I don't really feel
like a
cardinal. I feel I'm just a man.

"In Germany I lived in a small town with people who work in agriculture
and
handicrafts and there I feel at home. At the same time, I try to be
that way
in the office too. If that's what I succeed in doing, I'm not the one
to
say."

The then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
continued: "I always remember, with great affection, the goodness of my
father and mother. And for me goodness also means the ability to say
'no,'
because goodness that lets anything go can't be good for another.

"Sometimes goodness can also mean saying 'no,' even with the risk of
sounding contradictory. But this must be nourished not by a sense of
power
or vindication but by an ultimate goodness which is the desire to do
good to
others. These are my criteria, this is my background; other people can
add
to it what they wish."