Ratzinger calls for “clarity of faith” ahead of papal conclave

Kaleej Times ^ | April 18, 2005

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY - German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger defended Roman Catholic Church doctrine and condemned “the dictatorship of relativism” at Monday’s mass to pray for guidance in the election of the next pope.

In his homily, Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals and a leading candidate for the papacy, said relativism “recognizes nothing definitive and its final measure is no more than ego and desire.”

The 78-year-old cardinal pointed to “so many winds of doctrine that we have known in recent decades, so many ideological currents, so many ways of thinking,” including Marxism, liberalism, radical individualism, atheism and mysticism.

He was speaking before 115 cardinal electors were set later Monday to begin a days-long secret conclave to elect a successor to John Paul II.

Ratzinger said a “mature faith is not one that follows the waves of fashion and the latest novelty; adult and mature is a faith that is deeply grounded in friendship with Christ.”

The conservative German prelate, who as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is one of the Church’s leading enforcers of theological discipline, said: “Every day new sects are born, and what Saint Paul said about the deception of men, on cleverness that leads to mistakes, is becoming so.

“Having clear faith according to the credo of the Church is often labeled fundamentalism, while relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried here and there by whatever wind of doctrine, seems like the only attitude with any currency today,” said Ratzinger.

In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction, he also called on the clerics to be “guided by holy concern: the concern to bring to everyone the gift of faith and friendship with Christ.

“In truth, the love, the friendship of God has been given to us to transmit to others,” he said.

Ratzinger implored the faithful and the cardinal electors to ”heartily pray to the Lord at this time so that, after the great gift of Pope John Paul II, He will give us once again a pastor according to His heart, a pastor who will guide us to the knowledge of Christ, His love and true joy.”

[NYer]

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivers the homily during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday April 18, 2005, as the cardinals who will elect a new pope made their last public appearance before sequestering themselves inside the Sistine Chapel later in the day. Ratzinger, the powerful dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily at the Mass dedicated to electing the next pope to warn cardinals and the faithful about tendencies that he considered dangers to the faith: sects, ideologies like Marxism, liberalism, atheism, agnosticism and relativism.

[NYer]

Cardinals walk in procession during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday April 18, 2005, in their last public appearence before sequestering themselves inside the Sistine Chapel later in the day. Thousand of pilgrims and tourist packed St. Peter's Basilica and the square to take a last glimpse of the cardinals who will elect the next head of the Roman Catholic Church during the conclave. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

"I slept well, and now my ideas are clear," French Cardinal Paul Poupard said as he headed into the Mass. "I have realized the seriousness of the election. The Holy Spirit will do the rest."

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[starfish923]

Cardinal Ratzinger was the Grand Inquisitor for John Paul II and thus a guardian of Catholic doctrine.

“the dictatorship of relativism”

This is the biggest falling away from Christ's path. He is absolutely correct.

[NYer]

I woke up at 4:30 and caught portions of his homily. He spoke of all the 'isms' that have come and gone over the past 2000 years and recalled the words of St. Paul with regard to placing our trust in Christ alone. It was an awesome homily. Hopefully, I'll be able to post it to the forum later.

[Malesherbes]

Agreed. At his age Ratzinger could only be a transitional Pope, but he would be a rock on which to build for the future. I wish him well, and may the Holy Spirit guide the conclave as well as in the election of John Paul II.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

I am definitely not claiming to be directly guided by the Holy Ghost in this, but it sure seems to me that it would be a good thing for the Church if the Panzerkardinal became the Panzerpope.

[what's up]

recalled the words of St. Paul with regard to placing our trust in Christ alone

Wow...this is what Martin Luther taught. If this Pope really believes this, this is a Pope I could back.

I like every word he says in this article.

[ELS]

In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction

The reporter conveniently left out the enthusiastic applause from the faithful in attendance.

[FatherofFive]

I wish Ratzinger was younger. He could be a great leader for a short time -- and keep the American bishops on the road back to orthodoxy.

[AbeKrieger]

Ratzinger is making the hard sell. He'll be the early leading vote-getter but if he's not over 51% of the vote in the first three, four ballots, this support will wane.

I think South/Latin America is getting this one.

[Dogrobber]

Cardinal R. is hated by liberal American Catholics, the very same who were just waiting for John Paul II to die - and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

American liberal Catholics have not liked where the Church has been going. They want homosexual priests, married priests, abortion, female priests, homosexual marriage and "liberation" Catholocism. I view these folks as wanting to destroy the very thing that makes my Church a living and breathing connection to our Savior - obviously I oppose what they support.

I don't know who will be Pope. Ratzinger would be good because he would call the American Church to heel, a thing that John Paul II did in some respects- but not to the extent that is necessary. Lay Catholics in America understand that a large part of our current troubles, abusive priests and the lack of priests, arise from the liberization of Church in the 60's and 70's. It was then that this offensive idea of "chaste" homosexuals becoming priests was accepted by the Religious in the Church. Many traditional Catholic men seeking the priesthood were blackballed because they would not accept homosexuality within the clergy.

[NYer]

Ratzinger is making the hard sell.

I strongly doubt that. He never wanted to go to the Vatican. He is a philosopher and planned to write. It was JPII who pleaded for his assistance.

[Aquinasfan]

relativism “recognizes nothing definitive and its final measure is no more than ego and desire.”

Ratzinger rocks!

In the homily, which received quiet applause from few cardinals while others showed no particular reaction

Do cardinals usually applaud during homilies? It's never happened at any Mass that I've been to.

[Aquinasfan]

recalled the words of St. Paul with regard to placing our trust in Christ alone Wow...this is what Martin Luther taught.

Except Luther broke from the Church that Christ founded, which Scripture calls "the pillar and foundation of truth." Martin tended to ignore passages that he disagreed with.

Don't put your trust in men.

[Aquinasfan]

Cardinal R. is hated by liberal American Catholics, the very same who were just waiting for John Paul II to die

I hope that if he's elected, he rams the mandatum down the throats of all the CINO American colleges, in a charitable way, of course.

[what's up]

Don't put your trust in men.

Never...this is exactly why I was interested in the quotes from St. Paul.

[NYer]

Cardinal R. is hated by liberal American Catholics, the very same who were just waiting for John Paul II to die - and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

The diocese in which I reside is run by one of the most liberal bishops in America .. you're preaching to the choir ;-D.

My 70ish neighbors assured me that "we" need a more liberal pope and cringed at the mention of Ratzinger. They deserve nothing less than him!

[sinkspur]

Do cardinals usually applaud during homilies? It's never happened at any Mass that I've been to.

Europeans applaud for everything: live people, dead people, great homilies, pathetic homilies...these folks just love to give it up.

[hunter112]

Ratzinger is making the hard sell. He'll be the early leading vote-getter but if he's not over 51% of the vote in the first three, four ballots, this support will wane.

My mother and I were having this discussion this weekend. She (still a practicing Catholic) told me to watch Ratzinger, and I reminded her of the old saw, "He who enters the conclave a Pope, comes out a Cardinal."

I think she's amazed that twenty years after leaving the church, I still follow this stuff!

[SoothingDave]

I hope that if he's elected, he rams the mandatum down the throats of all the CINO American colleges, in a charitable way, of course.

But, they still need time to study it!

SD