Archbishop of Sydney

Inauguration Mass For Pope Benedict XVI

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
1 May 2005

My few weeks in Rome ended soon after the Mass for the new pope, Benedict XVI on last Sunday.  It was an intense and extraordinary time and a privilege to be part of it.

Probably no funeral in history had been quite like that of John Paul II.  The late pope loomed as large in death as he did in life.  Now there is an endless queue of pilgrims passing by his simple marble tomb in St. Peter’s.

The election of Pope Benedict by the cardinals was over quickly.  Indeed it was one of the briefest in history, needing only four ballots.  I will never forget the excitement in St. Peter’s Square when the result was announced.  Probably many of Cardinal Ratzinger’s supporters were unsure whether the cardinals would be brave or wise enough for such a choice!

The Sunday Mass was simple by Roman standards.  There was no crowning with the triple tiara, no snuffing out of a lighted candle with a reminder that the glory of the world passes quickly.

The pope was not carried into the Square, but walked from the tomb of St. Peter under the Basilica’s main altar where all the cardinals had gathered to pray before the ceremony.

The weather had been changeable with patches of heavy rain, a bit like Melbourne’s.  But the Sunday morning was fine with a light breeze.  My face was sun-burnt afterwards.  Once again the Square and the Via di Conciliazione were packed with a crowd of about 400,000 carrying flags and banners.

The choice of the German Cardinal Ratzinger as pope surprised many commentators, especially those who wanted further liberalisation of doctrine.

Many still believe that the Church must modernise and soften her doctrines to win new followers and hold on to present members.  There are some problems with this point of view, not the least of which is that the evidence contradicts this claim.

The evidence throughout the Western world shows that the more radically a Christian Church conforms to the pagan standards of the surrounding society the quicker the decline.  Some such communities are going out of business.

Benedict XVI will not make this mistake.  He is wise and clever as well as being genuinely spiritual; a good priest.

All Christians and many others admire Jesus Christ, but some Christians act and sometimes talk as though his teachings need to be updated and improved.  Others, a larger number, often talk as though the Church community is more of a hindrance than a help to faith and right living.

Like his predecessor John Paul, Pope Benedict will call us clearly to Jesus Christ, away from the spiritual deserts of modern life to the truth and love of Christian living.  The Pope also loves his Church; he has no black arm-band view of Catholic history.

He will be a good pope and a standard-bearer for all Christians.