St. John’s University Joins World In
Welcoming Pope Benedict XVI
April 19, 2005 -- The entire St. John’s University community
joins the world in joyously welcoming Pope Benedict XVI, the first
pope elected in this new century to lead 1.1 billion Roman
Catholics around the globe.
As white smoke drifted from a Sistine Chapel chimney early this
afternoon, the world learned that the conclave had chosen Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger to follow Pope John Paul II, who passed away at 84
years old on April 2. The conclave elected the new pope after only
two days of deliberation.
The first German elected pope since the 11th century, Cardinal
Ratzinger chose his name in commemoration of Benedict XV, who
served as pope from 1914 to 1922.
Tens of thousands of onlookers cheered as the new pope stepped
onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Describing himself as a
“simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord,” Benedict XVI
told the crowd, “I entrust myself to your prayers.”
Benedict XVI worked closely with Pope John Paul II. As head of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith since 1981, Benedict XVI
advised the previous pope on church policy in an overwhelmingly
secular world.