Praise the Lord! We have a Pope!

This morning about 11:30 a.m. CST, our new Holy Father was introduced to the world. As the name "Joseph Ratzinger" was announced, the jubilant crowd cheered wildly, waving flags from every country around the world, manifesting the universality of Catholicism. Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI -- the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church.

In a simple speech, our new Shepherd, presented an important message to his flock. "Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord," he said after being introduced by Chilean Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estivez.

"The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers," the new pope said. " I entrust myself to your prayers."
The crowd responded by chanting "Benedict! Benedict!"

Let us pray for Pope Benedict XVI that the Holy Spirit will guide him as he leads his people on the path to holiness in this blessed year of the Holy Eucharist.

Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift of our new Papa. Amen.
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