Let us say that His Holiness was elected to be a transitional Pope. If we reflect on the meaning of "transitional" and, in addition, consider the Pontificate of the last "transitional" Pope (John XXIII), then this is reason for a great deal of hope. A "transitional" Pope implies that the Papacy is "transitioning." Under Bl. John XXIII, the Papacy transitioned from centralized and authoritarian (Pius XII) to decentralized and permissive (Paul VI/John Paul I/John Paul II). So perhaps the Papacy under Benedict XVI will begin its transition back to centralization and authoritarianism.

Quote~ "My hunch is that Ratzinger carefully lined up a narrow majority of cardinals who pledged they would never vote for someone else. He had enough power in the waning years of John Paul II to ensure that kind of loyalty."
You're right, Jimmy, that was hilarious!
God Bless.

I don't read Andrew Sullivan. I find that his stuff depresses me. If he's having a hissy fit over B16 then I am absolutely certain that the cardinals chose correctly.

homily is here courtesy of the BBC (WARNING: Evil File Format - PDF)

A couple of questions:
1) Is the Holy Father's homily, from his mass this morning in the Sistine chapel, available online in English translation?
2) What was up with the "table" Mass was celebrated on, when the Sistine chapel is full equipped with a beautiful, centuries old high-altar? Why wouldn't such a liturgically-minded Pontiff celebrate Mass in the traditional manner?

I used to read AS regularly, but quit about a year ago. It was at this point he no longer had the strength to bind together in his identity his cultural catholicism and his gay activism. One of these two mutually repellant elements had to go, and what remained was his self-identification as a gay man.
From time to time I visit his site, and have noticed the increasing radicalization of his tone, the progressive weakness in his argumentation, and what appears simply to be a lack of charity. Perhaps its origin of this transformation is the fact that he is no longer availing himself to the sacraments, but for whatever reason, AS deserves our prayers. First, and foremostly for the salvation of his soul.
As annoying as he is at times, he really is very little threat to the Church; however, if he would repent his hostility to the Church and his open devotion to sexual sin, he could be a great champion of the faith.

Father Richard McBrein was on ABC when the new Holy Father was announced. He said (and I paraphrase) that many liberals and progressives may be very disappointed by this election but we should give Benedict some time and maybe he could find a more moderate approach, blah, blah, blah or this may not be a long pontificate. Can anyone else read between those lines?
Do these people understand that the Pope's 'agenda' is not politically motivated domestic and foreign policy like a president but absolute truth?

Thank God For the discerment of the Cardinals and for Pope Benedict XVI! I wonder if this lost generation of narcissistic babyboomers and modernist "Catholic" reformers have any idea how pathetic their ranting protests are. I Look forward, with hope, to the next World Youth Day where the Fr. Greeleys of the world will be "astonished and dismayed" at the support the "young fogies" of the Church will show our newest Holy Father. While it may take another 10 - 20 years, let us praying that we are hearing the death howl of the sterile "spirituality" that is subjective relativism!

Thank God For the discerment of the Cardinals and for Pope Benedict XVI! I wonder if this lost generation of narcissistic babyboomers and modernist "Catholic" reformers have any idea how pathetic their ranting protests are. I Look forward, with hope, to the next World Youth Day where the Fr. Greeleys of the world will be "astonished and dismayed" at the support the "young fogies" of the Church will show our newest Holy Father. While it may take another 10 - 20 years, let us praying that we are hearing the death howl of the sterile "me-spirituality" that is subjective relativism!

This is my favorite Andrew Sullivan quote:
I was trying to explain last night to a non-Catholic just how dumb-struck many reformist Catholics are by the elevation of Ratzinger. And then I found a way to explain. This is the religious equivalent of having had four terms of George W. Bush only to find that his successor as president is Karl Rove. Get it now?

It's as if our Cardinals gave one, big collective Bronx Cheer to everyone pushing some sort of agenda [birth control, female priests]. Thank you, Cardinals! We won't have to suffer through a week of the MSM speculating whether a new, dark horse pope will push their agenda.
In hindsight, with all of the hullaballoo about finding a pope more hip than JPII, the MSM never did glom onto a Cardinal as a poster boy for their agenda. Which makes me feel very, very good about our Cardinals.
We had German Chocolate cake for dessert after dinner last night. Yum!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Whimsy