[JustaCowgirl]

The article contains insight into Pope Benedict's thinking during the election process. It's clear he is following what he believes to be God's will in accepting the role of Pope, rather than his own ambition. Truly a man of God.

[ken5050]

Re the "election process"...FYI..check out this story here in today's NY POST...sounds like the new Pope had help from Karl Rove...or the Curia equivalent..

[hershey]

Amazing reading -- an elderly and gentle man heeding the call of the Lord. (Thank you for posting this.) The comparison with the hate-mongers of the Left is mind-boggling. NPR was fulminating the other morning that the coverage of the late Pope's death and the election of Benedict XVI had been excessive and overly reverential.

[Varda]

Beautiful article and it's hard to believe it's from Reuters!

[Petronski]

"So with deep conviction, I told the Lord: 'Don't do this to me! You have younger and better men, who can do this work with a very different verve and strength'. In this situation ... the Lord clearly did not listen to me." ---Pope Benedict XVI

LOL. Doncha just love this guy?

[Bosco]

And what does the idea of "peace" look like from a Muslim's perspective?

[afraidfortherepublic]

The more I read about him the more I love him! Benedict XVI is a wonderful choice. God has smiled on His church.

[NYer]

"So with deep conviction, I told the Lord: 'Don't do this to me! You have younger and better men, who can do this work with a very different verve and strength'. In this situation ... the Lord clearly did not listen to me."

In this photo made available by the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano, world religious leaders applaud Pope Benedict XVI, in white, during a meeting in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican, Monday, April 25, 2005. Benedict told ecumenical leaders on Monday that he fully supported the need to work toward uniting Christians divided by schism. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano)

Thank you, Holy Father, for saying "yes"!

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[goldstategop]

At times destiny is thrust on men instead of their seeking it out. However it calls one, one must bear it and soldier on bravely and pray history remembers one kindly.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[WoofDog123]

"or if some things that the Pope has to say and do on the basis of his conscience or the conscience of the Church seem hard to understand.""

This is an unusually open statement, I assume it refers to the fact he is now a politician/statesman in his role and will be required to say things inconsistent with his personal views or things he has done or said in the past, as his obligations have changed dramatically.