nhreligion.com: the papal transition

The Papal Transition: nhreligion.com Covers the Death of John Paul II
and the Elevation of Benedict XVI

Pope John Paul II Dies
The man who led over a billion Catholics - including over 325,000 New Hampshire Catholics -passed away Saturday at 2:37 p.m. (Eastern time). Nhreligion.com expresses condolences to all of our Catholic readers on the loss of this remarkable man. John Paul II will be remembered for his role in the collapse of communism in Europe and his unyielding defense of traditional Vatican doctrines as leader of the Catholic Church.

Huge crowds had staged a tearful vigil in St. Peter's Square, praying for a man already being dubbed by some Catholics as "John Paul the Great." News organizations were notified by e-mail, while more traditional announcements were conducted in the square. The Pontiff's mourning rites will last 9 days and his body is likely to be laid to rest in the crypt underneath St Peter's Basilica. The conclave to elect a new Pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with almost 120 cardinals from around the world gathering in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a successor.

A Short Biography of Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) (nhreligion.com)
A gloriously human pope (Newsday)
Worried about the ills of the Modern Age (Union Leader/AP)
John Paul II embraced new technologies (CNET)
Death and Election of a Pope (Catholic Diocese of Manchester - .pdf document)
NH Catholics Feel Loss of Pope Deeply
Nashua Telegraph writer Albert McKeon speaks to Catholics and non-Catholics alike . All shared in admiration of John Paul II's many accomplishments.
NH Catholic Diocese Declares Day of Mourning for John Paul II
(Posted 4/4/05) In an official statement, Bishop John B. McCormack has declared Friday, April 8, an official diocesan Day of Mourning. "All diocesan offices, Catholic schools and institutions will be closed to honor the memory of Pope John Paul II and to provide people an opportunity to gather for prayer. Bishop McCormack will preside at Solemn Vespers on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m. and will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II on Friday, April 8, at 6 p.m.. Both celebrations will be held at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. Bishop McCormack stated on Friday that, 'the people of the world lost a faithful friend, an advocate of the poor, and a voice for the weak. The Church has lost a loving pastor. Pope John Paul II was a true shepherd and a man of deep faith. He lived what he believed — life in Christ.'"

Conclave Begins for New Pope Begins - But No Pope Elected Today
Black smoke has been seen above the Vatican this night, meaning no pope has been selected by the 115 cardinals under 80 years old who will select the next pontiff.

The world has been treated to unprecedented access to the Conclave itself, with cameras recording the procession into the Sistine Chapel with its famous Michelangelo work on the Last Judgement. Cable TV networks played the procession into the chapel live, along with the taking of oaths of secrecy and singing of a hymn listing various Catholic saints.

The doors were then shut, and all but the cardinals were left inside. Around 2 p.m. eastern time (8 p.m. Rome Time) black puffs of smoke were sighted over the Vatican, indicating that the balloting must continue at tomorrow's session.

Vatican observers say the likelihood of an American or Canadian pope being elected are slim, but the chance of a pope from the Global South - including from Africa or Latin America - is higher.

posted 4/18/2005 2:28 p.m.

It's Pope Benedict XVI - Joseph Ratzinger
"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
Habemus Papam!
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Josef,
Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Ratzinger
qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedict VXI."

This was the announcement made from the balcony of the Vatican at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday by Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez. The new pope is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German, and he has chosen to call himself Benedict VXI. The new pope said he was a "simple, humble laborer in God's vineyard."

"After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help. The Lord will help us and Mary, his Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you."

The new pope has played the role of doctrinal watchdog at the Vatican since 1981. Under his meek demeanour lies a steely intellect ready to dissect theological works for their dogmatic purity and debate fiercely against dissenters.

His traditionalist judgments have delighted fellow conservatives and outraged liberal Catholics and members of other faiths.

Born in Bavaria in 1927, Ratzinger first gained attention as a liberal theological advisor at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The Marxism and atheism of the 1968 student protests across Europe prompted him to become more conservative to defend the faith against growing secularism.

After stints as a leading theology professor and then archbishop of Munich, Ratzinger was appointed head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the successor office to the Inquisition, in 1981.

In that office, Ratzinger first turned towards "liberation theology" popular in Latin America, quieting its theologians.

In 1986, he issued a firm Vatican denunciation of homosexuality and gay marriage. He brought pressure to bear in the 1990s against theologians, mostly in Asia, who saw non-Christian religions as part of God's plan for humanity.

A 2004 document sternly denounced "radical feminism" as an ideology that undermined the family and obscured the natural differences between men and women.

His combative side came out in 2000 in a dispute over a CDF document entitled Dominus Iesus (Lord Jesus). Aimed at restating the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church against the more inclusive view developing in Asia, it branded other Christian denominations as deficient or not quite real churches.

Anglican, Lutheran and other Protestant churches which had been in ecumenical dialogue with Rome for years were shocked. They were further upset when Ratzinger dismissed protests from Lutherans as "absurd."

One of Pope John Paul's closest advisers, Ratzinger grew in power over the years. In 2002, he added an influential post to his portfolio when he became dean of the College of Cardinals, which elects the next pontiff.

In that role, he presided over Pope John Paul's funeral and addressed the cardinals before they voted in conclave. He was the leading candidate for the papacy.

More: NH Reacts to New Pope (Foster's)

posted 4/19/2005 12:45 p.m.

UL Decries Critics of Pope's "Hardline" Approach
A Union Leader editorial today "Pope hysteria: Oh, no! He's a Catholic!," takes on those who are critical of the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI for simply standing up for traditional Roman Catholic teachings on sexuality, celibacy in the (all-male) priesthood and the family.

posted 4/21/2005 2:40 p.m.

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