God’s Gift
God’s gift of of faith was given to us when the early Christians rejoiced at the fact that Christ resurrected from dead. The earliest form of this "kerygma" has been handed down to us through God’s gift of a continuous rendition of Christ’s teachings through the apostles. The apostles in turn create one of God’s most precious gifts to mankind: His Church established by Christ when entrusted the keys of the kingdom to Peter, the first pope of the Christian community. God continues to show us his gifts in the Church through the leadership of the Supreme Pontiff whom the Holy Spirit handpicked during the sequestered conclave.
At 17:56 Rome time, the entire world was stunned at the white smoke arising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. At first, reporters from well-known news stations did not announce the election of a pope until, after 20 minutes of waiting, the campanarro of the Vatican’s Patriarchal Basilica tolled. At around 18:45 Rome time, the long wait for the Pope is over. Cardinal Jorge Medina Esteves, the College’s Proto-Deacon (most senior deacon), announced the most endearing words of the Latin formulary:
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum;
habemus Papam:
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Josephum
Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger
qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI
After that, Most Reverend Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger went out from the Hall of Blessings and made his first public appearance as BENEDICTVM XVI (Latin for Benedict XVI). He was greeted by the universal Church. He was accepted warmly. After that, he gave his first Urbi et Orbi (to the city of Rome and to the World) message:
Dear brothers and sisters,
After our great Pope, John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God’s vineyard.
I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers.
In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved Mother, stands on our side. Thank you.
Then after that, he gave his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi.
I am proud to say that I AM A WITNESS TO THIS HISTORIC EVENT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH!
God truly sends us gifts and blessings…and now he sends us BENEDICTVM XVI as a new leader in the Church…
Oremus Pro Papa Benedictvm XVI…Pax Domini Vobis!
