Hello again! And allow me to thank each and every one of you that check out my little blog here. I have received e-mail from friends and family in addition to posts and e-mail from people as far as Dallas, Houston and a few from out of state! Incredible! And thank you!
Now then, today is an historic occasion. Two days of voting have occurred in Rome and already a new pontiff has been selected: Pope Benedict XVI (the 16th for anyone who don't know roman numerals). His given name is Josephus Ratzinger, former Cardinal and right-hand man of Pope John Paul II.
Much to my dismay, people have already started the jokes and taking slap shots at the new Pope. He is a man who grew up in lower Bavaria in Germany. As a teenager, he was "recruited" into the army and manned anti-aircraft guns toward the end of the war. He got out and soon became a priest. But of course, that hasn't stopped today's smaller minds from equating him with a Nazi or calling him the "Panzer Pope." He does have a reputation for holding a strict line on Catholic beliefs, but that is no reason to condemn him before he even spends one day in office.
Comments such as these, and I'm sure many more to come, only further delineate the depths of which Man has succumbed to. Why bother with logic, reasoning, researching facts and actually meeting someone... when you can just make generalized statements and stabs at an individuals character? Much easier that way and requires far less work.
Far be it for me to hold myself as an example of "good character." I have been known to jump to conclusions and have later regretted them. Other times, I may have been proven right, but it still doesn't justify lack of homework.
My point is: Pope John Paul II was an incredible man. He held church services in communist Cuba for crying out loud! He was a man true to his faith, true to all mankind and prayed daily for the good of all. How can anyone follow in the shadow of that? And given the state the world is in, Pope Benedict will have a lot of work ahead of him to progress from where John Paul left off.
If you are a believer of prophecy, St. Malachy speaks highly of this new pope and the good that he will do. If you don't know what I'm talking about, punch "St. Malachy" into a Google search engine and read for yourself.
Now, if you aren't into prophecy, then we have to at least let the man get started before we jump off and judge him for what he does. He showed up and said,"Thank you for this honor" and now we have to see if he is truly worthy of it... not that anyone can change it.
Anyhow, the choosing of a Pope is an historic event. Catholic or not, the whole world stops and listens to the Vatican at such a time as this. That is reason enough for everyone to pay attention themselves. I believe if we all knew more about what was happening in the world and cared enough to learn more and perhaps act on the facts, the world would be a better place.
I hope this little note has given everyone something to at least think about. And if not, feel free to move on! ;)
Have a good one! :)
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