Posted on 04/25/2005 8:49:18 AM PDT by areafiftyone
VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Benedict XVI said Monday he had viewed the idea of being elected pope as a "guillotine," and he prayed to God during the recent conclave to be spared selection but "evidently this time, he didn't listen to me."
For the first time since his election, Benedict shed light on his feelings inside the conclave during an audience with fellow Germans.
Speaking in his native tongue, Benedict told the audience that at one point during the conclave, when it became clear he was garnering many votes, a fellow cardinal slipped him a note reminding him what he had preached before the conclave about Christ calling Peter to follow him even where he did not want to go.
Benedict, 78, said he had hoped to spend his last years living quietly and peacefully.
"As the trend in the ballots slowly made me realize that — in a manner of speaking the guillotine would fall on me — I started to feel quite dizzy," a smiling Benedict said, clearly joking. "I thought that I had done my life's work and could now hope to live out my days in peace. I told the Lord with deep conviction, 'Don't do this to me.'"
He recalled saying to God in his prayers: "You have younger, better, more enthusiastic and energetic candidates."
"Evidently, this time He didn't listen to me," Benedict said.
The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope April 19 after four rounds of balloting in 24 hours, one of the fastest elections in a century. He went into the conclave a leading candidate, but at 78 he was considered old to be named pope.
Benedict was interrupted several times by applause and cheering during the audience, and he seemed to enjoy the welcome from his countrymen, smiling and chuckling occasionally. When he first arrived in the audience hall, he received a hero's welcome, shaking the pilgrims' hands and blessing a child handed to him.
"Benedict sent from God!" the crowds chanted. In German, the chant rhymes: "Benedikt Gott Geschickt."
Pilgrims, some in traditional dress, toted Bavarian flags and a banner for the church's World Youth Day, which is being celebrated in August in Cologne, Germany. Benedict told the crowd he was looking forward to attending, following a tradition beloved by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who made reaching out to young Catholics a hallmark of his pontificate.
"It's not true that young people only look at consumerism and materialism," he said. "Young people want great things."
He told them the church is not a place for people seeking a comfortable life, noting that it is difficult to choose to follow Christ.
"He who is looking to be comfortable has come to the wrong address," he said.
He asked for their support, no matter what.
"I ask you for your trust when I make errors or when I say things that aren't easily understood, because the pope has to say these things. If we stick together, then we will find the way."
In the crowd was Benedict's brother, Georg Ratzinger, who also is a priest and traveled to Rome for his younger brother's inauguration. He received warm applause from the crowd when he arrived.
Benedict played to the crowd, telling them: "My roots are in Bavaria and I'm still Bavarian as bishop of Rome."
At the start of the audience, Benedict apologized to the crowds for arriving late, explaining that a meeting with religious leaders who attended his inauguration Mass ran long.
"The Germans are used to punctuality," he joked. "I'm already very Italian."
Many people in the crowd said they were thrilled with Benedict's election and were surprised to find him so warm when he has had such a dour reputation as head of the Vatican's doctrinal orthodoxy office.
"I was so surprised. I didn't know he was so personable," said Annette Wilkemeyer. "This is great, especially for the young."
"...he prayed to God during the recent conclave to be spared selection but "evidently this time, he didn't listen to me." "
I don't like or dislike this pope... (I'm methodist). However, this struck me. I was taught God always listens, and always answers prayers. It's not that God didn't listen, it's that He said "no".
There are probably two thousand pages of interviews with him over the past two decades that are easily available in current paperback.
These interviews are widely available in English, German, Italian and probably French and Spanish as well.
Anyone who bothered to read these interviews with the popular press can see that he's witty, jovial and self-deprecating.
The image of him as a hatchet-faced, humorless bastard was invented by the press despite reams of evidence to the contrary.
...oldest trick in the book...
The word "listen" sometimes, as in this context,takes on the meaning of "agreeing with".
Its the liberals and the liberal press's doing. They will never like any Pope who is adhering to the ways of the Roman Catholic Church. The Liberals want a pope who changes the rules so their own sins will be okay!
A great complement for a man who serves a very old God!
LOL! I've had my arguements with God, too. "NO! NO! Not me! Send someone else!" Funny how God works these things out.
Please forgive I don't understand your comment!
Maybe we should add this to the Catholic ping list
I like this Pope's attack on moral relativism - the greatest enemy of Christianity and western Civilization today.
He's right on that, on baby-killing, on homosexual marriages and immoral lifestyles. I also heard he was going to attack the "filth in the church" - which I can only think was a reference to paedophiles. I hope he roots them out and defrocks them.
Cynic
He has also written some 50 books on theology, something else the MSM doesn't want you to know. I guess they figure that if they're going to make you into "God's Rottweiler" or "The Enforcer", they have to make you some brain-dead, mouth-breathing lughead first.
The funny thing is, the MSM will use this to try to bash him, and will once agin be completely unable to figure out why it only endears him more to us. Even Jesus prayed that the cup be taken from His lips.
Correct. I have a feeling something got lost in the translation here.
Certainly! You are forgiven!
not cynical in the least! Perhaps people who look at life differently than you are not cynics, but have a different point of view you don't understand?
For goodness sake! Of course God listened and said, "No." Pope Benedict knows that. It was his sense of humor coming through.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.