On April 19, the Cardinals elected Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, of Bavaria, as the 265 th leader of the Church. We rejoice that the process of election has been successfully completed. We pray for our new Holy Father that he will be transformed by the Holy Spirit to lead the People of God with wisdom and compassion. We join the community of 1.1 billion Catholics around the globe in congratulating Pope Benedict XVI and supporting him as our new leader.
As Francis Cardinal George prepared for the conclave, he wrote a letter to the youth of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Here are some thoughts from that letter.
I write to you from Rome during a very important time
in the life of the Church in which both you and I are
privileged to participate. Whether by newspaper, television,
radio or the Internet, the media made it possible for you
to connect with these events to a degree that was
impossible for any previous generation. I hope that you
were also able to see, as I was, the extensive participation
of young Catholics like yourselves in these events.
I thank you for the prayers and Masses you will offer
for our new Pope after his election. Together with Catholic
youth everywhere, you will help the Church to recall and
to trust in the very first words that Pope John Paul II
spoke after his election was announced, “Be not afraid.”
Now that we know our Holy Father’s name, we can pray for the light and guidance of the great St. Benedict to help him to begin his journey of leadership. Pope Benedict XVI began his papacy with these words: “…the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.” Let us continue our prayer and our work so that our new leader will work tirelessly to unify our world in justice and peace.
SUGGESTIONS FOR LEARNING ABOUT POPE BENEDICT XVI
This week you will have many photos of Pope Benedict XVI available in the press. Make a collage of photos of the Pope of the periods of his life for students to see. Add yellow and white to the display as the official colors of the papacy.
Internet is a prime source of information for older students to research and find articles about Pope Benedict’s life.
Suggest to students that they watch the news to get information about the Pope. Report what they hear during social studies class.
Create a timeline of the Pope’s service in the Church. Identify on a map locations of his service.
Research the Pope’s family history. Identify his family life with the contemporary issues of Bavaria.
Create ways of praying for Pope Benedict in the classroom and with entire student body.
Arrange for a special Mass to celebrate the election of Pope Benedict XVI and use some of the photos/papal symbols that were researched by students in the liturgy.
Some questions to consider:
- Who was St. Benedict? Why do you think Pope Benedict chose his name?
- What does XVI mean in the Pope’s name?
- Who was Pope Benedict XV? What was important about his papacy?
- What are some of the books written by Pope Benedict XVI?
- As you think about the Church and the world, what are some of the issues that Pope Benedict will be facing as leader of the Church?
- How might you participate in the mission of the Church to help our new Holy Father achieve his goals?
- What of Pope John Paul II’s legacy might our new Pope seek to continue in the Church and world?
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