The media coverage given to the Catholic Church over the last month has been absolutely astounding. It gave the Church an opportunity to catechise the global community on various points of Catholic theology, worship and structure.

It gave Catholic scholars the opportunity to respond to the many issues/questions presented by men and women of various viewpoints about the teaching of the Church.

The time allowed for open dialogue was significant. Usually, due to the liberal bias of the media, time is given for challenges to the Church but not for a response by the Church. It was a refreshing moment in history.

We have gathered to thank God for the election of a Pope and for the fact that the election was an early election. It indicated unity among the Cardinals and a desire for continuity with the pontificate of Pope John Paul II.

Why do we thank God for the election of a Pope? The answer to that question is contained in the Catholic Tradition and clearly presented for modern times in the teaching of Vatican Council II. Allow me to refer to three points from conciliar teaching:

1)“In order that the episcopate might be one and undivided, the Lord placed Peter over the other Apostles and instituted in him a permanent and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion. This teaching about the institution, the perpetuity, the force and reason for the sacred primacy of the Roman Pontiff and his infallible teaching authority, this Synod again proposes to be firmly believed by all the faithful;”

2)“In virtue of his office, that is, as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the whole Church, the Roman Pontiff has universal authority over the Church. He can always exercise this authority freely;”

3)“The college of Bishops has no authority unless it is simultaneously conceived of in terms of its head, Peter's Successor.”

We are grateful for the election of a new Pope because the visible source and foundation of unity and communion in the Church is once again among us.

The name Benedict

The new Pope has chosen the name Benedict XVI. In doing so, he has linked his pontificate to two great evangelisers: 1) St Benedict, (480-547) the evangeliser of the medieval age and the patron of Europe; 2) Pope Benedict XV, (1914-1922) a man of peace in a time of war, a promoter of the formation and sanctification of the clergy and the person who established the octave of prayer for Christian Unity in the Catholic Church.

We know that a seriously secularised Europe is in need of fundamental evangelisation, the world is in need of peace, the clergy – bishops, priests and deacons are in need of renewal – and the ecumenical movement is in need of significant attention.

In the brief time we have had access to the thoughts of Benedict XVI, we can see why he chose the name of Benedict XVI. He believes he has been called to be the evangeliser of Europe , to make the renewal of the clergy a priority and to reinvigorate the ecumenical movement in the world.

Pastoral insights

Yesterday, in his installation Mass, Pope Benedict XVI made some pastoral statements in his homily that give us insight to his person and into how he will approach his pontificate.

1) He said that when Pope John Paul II died, he felt so alone. Yet as he listened to the litany of the saints being chanted, he realised that those who believe are never alone.

2) When he felt overwhelmed by the enormous responsibility he had been given, a responsibility that exceeded his human capacity, he asked himself, “How can I do this?” In prayer he realised he did not have to carry alone what, in truth, he could never carry alone. He was consoled by the thought of the Communion of Saints. He realised that he was not alone.

3) Remembering the events of the last month, he realised that the Church is alive. The Church is alive because Christ is alive, because Christ is truly Risen. He said the Church holds within herself the future of the world and therefore must show everyone the way toward the future.

4) He committed himself through the ecumenical movement to those who are baptised but not yet in full communion with the Church. He committed himself to the Jewish people with whom we have a shared spiritual heritage. He committed himself to all believers of all religious traditions. He committed himself to the many non-believers of the world.

5) He took the two symbols of his ministry and used them to teach:

5.1-The Pallium : It may be considered an image of the yoke of Christ. He said God's yoke is God's will. It does not weigh us down or oppress us or take away our freedom. To know what God wants us to do is a joy. It purifies us even when it is painful and leads us to our authentic selves. When we do God's will we serve not only God, but the salvation of the world.

5.2-The lamb's wool from which the Pallium is made, represents the lost sheep in the desert, the sick sheep, the weak sheep that the shepherd places on his shoulders and carries to the waters of life. With great pastoral insight, Benedict XVI specified the various types of desert that exist in modern times.

Let us listen to them and see if they touch your lives: the desert of poverty, the desert of hunger and thirst, the desert of abandonment, of loneliness, of destroyed love. He stressed the desert of darkness in which people can no longer even appreciate their dignity as persons.

He said the external deserts have become so common because internal deserts – the emptiness that lives within us – have become so vast. The shepherd with zeal and perseverance must lead the people out of the desert. The challenge is so great he asks for prayer that he may nourish the people with truth, with love and with gentleness.

6) The Fisherman's Ring : The image is to cast the net into the sea, the deep sea of history, to win men and women for Christ. The ancient writers of the Church, the Fathers of the Church, reminded us that we live in alienation, in the salt waters of suffering and death, in a sea of darkness without light.

The net pulls us out of the waters of death and brings us into the splendour of God's light. The purpose of our lives is to reveal God to others. Only where God is seen does life truly begin.

Benedict XVI then said the net has been torn – I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must lead them too so there will be one flock and one shepherd. The Pope invites us to be shepherds of unity.

7) He concluded his homily with the young. He began with their fear of committing themselves to Christ specifically of missing out on the joys of life. He told the young, “if we let Christ into our lives we lose nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great.

Only in friendship with Christ do we experience liberation.” He told them, “Open yourselves to Christ and you will find true life.”

Conclusion

Having listened to the doctrinal teaching on the office of Peter, the implications of his choice of the name Benedict and the pastoral insights of his homily, how are we to respond as believers? Consider these recommendations:

1) Receive his teaching with openness. Reflect on it and obey it in faith. The teaching of the Vicar of Christ is not just the teaching of a theologian. His teaching is for our benefit, our growth and our salvation. We have the guarantee that the teaching of the successor of Peter cannot lead us into error about faith and morals.

2) Every day pray for the Pope. Pay attention to the Eucharist Prayers. Each Eucharistic Prayer prays for the Church and for the strengthening of the Holy Father,

3) Collaborate with the Holy Father in mission. Become shepherds and touch the lives of other people.

I experienced great joy at the election of Benedict XVI as Pope. I pray as we celebrate together that you share my joy.