Let This Cup Pass?

It seems that my reflection on Benedict XVI’s "human moment" in accepting the papacy was significantl on the mark.

After writing the post I discovered an article in which it’s reported that Cardinal Ratzinger actually prayed that God would not have him elected pope.

EXCERPT:

"I prayed to the Lord that they would elect someone stronger than I, but in that prayer he obviously did not listen to me," the Holy Father said today during a meeting in Paul VI Hall with some 5,000 Germans who came to Rome to support him at the start of his pontificate.

"I want to tell you something about the conclave without violating the secrecy," the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said. "I never thought I would be elected, nor did I do anything to make it happen, but when slowly the unfolding of the votes led me to understand that the ‘guillotine’ was coming closer and looking at me, I asked God to spare me this fate."

He said he then remembered a letter that he had with him from a German cardinal. That cardinal reminded his countryman what he said at Pope John Paul II’s funeral Mass, quoting Jesus’ words to Peter, and encouraged him that "if the Lord addressed that ‘follow me’ to me, I could not refuse the call."

"The Lord’s ways are not easy, but we are not made for ease; therefore, I could only say ‘yes’ to the election," Benedict XVI said in German in his impromptu address to his compatriots.

"I thought that my work in this life had ended and that years of tranquility awaited me," he added.

GET THE STORY.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

One thought on “Let This Cup Pass?”

  1. I can see a serenity in Pope Benedict XVI, and it comes through on television. I was particularly struck by the warmth and fatherliness he showed when he greeted the 12 people who came to pay him homage at his installation.
    There are some people who can project to a crowd. John Paul II was one of them. Others shine one on one, and I think this Pope is one of them.
    I also think that as we see him more on television, his basic goodness will come through to the people and he will be very much loved.

Comments are closed.