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Apr 15, 2008 8:08 am US/Eastern

CBS 2 Classic: Inauguration Of Pope Benedict XVI

NEW YORK (CBS) ― As New York Catholics eagerly, and prayerfully, await the April 18th arrival of the successor to Saint Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, WCBSTV.com invites you to recall the day he ascended to the Papacy.

Cardinal Ratzinger first greeted cheering crowds of the faithful in Saint Peter's Square in Rome as Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005. Seventy-eight-years old at the time of his election, the Pontiff deemed himself an unworthy servant of Christ, claiming he had insufficient tools for the momentous responsibilities he would undoubted undertake.

"After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals elected me, simply and humbly, to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. I am consoled by the fact that even though I have insufficient instruments to do this, my dear brother cardinals are with me and praying with me. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, Who gives us His permanent help in moving forward, and to His most holy mother Mary, thank you." Pope Benedict XVI told the crowd.

On April 24, he was installed as Pope, and again spoke in humble tones of his deficiency for the Holy See. "And now, at this moment, weak servant of God that I am, I must assume this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity. How can I do this? How will I be able to do it?"

Pope Benedict XVI then offered firm resolve, trusting in the succord of the Saints and the prayers and love of the faithful to sustain him. "I am not alone. I do not have to carry alone what in truth I could never carry alone," he said.

"All of us belong to the communion of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of Christ's Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us like himself," the Pontiff added.

When addressing German pilgrims the next day, he confessed to having prayed to God not to be elected pope. He believed there were other, more worthy candidates whom the Cardinals could elect.

"When, little by little, the trend of the voting led me to understand that, to say it simply, the axe was going to fall on me, my head began to spin. I was convinced that I had already carried out my life's work and could look forward to ending my days peacefully. With profound conviction I said to the Lord: Do not do this to me! You have younger and better people at your disposal, who can face this great responsibility with greater dynamism and greater strength," the Pontiff said. 

However, then-Cardinal Ratzinger received encouragement and strength from another Cardinal.

"I was then very touched by a brief note written to me by a brother Cardinal. He reminded me that on the occasion of the Mass for John Paul II, I had based my homily, starting from the Gospel, on the Lord's words to Peter by the Lake of Gennesaret: 'Follow me!'. I spoke of how again and again, Karol Wojtyła received this call from the Lord, and how each time he had to renounce much and to simply say: Yes, I will follow you, even if you lead me where I never wanted to go."

Ratzinger's brother Cardinal advised him to remember the Lord's exhortation, that he should follow when called. "Do not refuse! Be obedient in the same way that you described the great Pope, who has returned to the house of the Father."

"This deeply moved me. The ways of the Lord are not easy, but we were not created for an easy life, but for great things, for goodness," Pope Benedict XVI said.

Articles:
  Benedict XVI Holds First General Audience (April 27, 2005)
  Pope Benedict XVI Meets With Christians, Muslims (April 25, 2005)
  Pope Prayed Not To Be Elected (April 25, 2005)
  Pope's Installation Mixed Old, New (April 24, 2005)
  Benedict XVI Installed As Pope (April 24, 2005)
  Pope Benedict XVI Greets The Press (April 23, 2005)
  Vatican Preps For Papal Installation (April 23, 2005)
  Pope Defied Nazis As Teen During WWII (April 23, 2005)
  Rome Preps For Installation Mass (April 22, 2005)
  House Sends Delegation For Pope's Mass (April 22, 2005)
  Germans Flock To Rome (April 22, 2005)
  New Pope Gets New E-Mail Address (April 21, 2005)
  Benedict XVI Moves Into Vatican (April 21, 2005)
  No Staff Shake-Up At Vatican (April 21, 2005)
  Benedict Predicts 'Short Reign' (April 20, 2005)
  Pope's Brother 'Not Very Happy' (April 20, 2005)
  Pope Vows To Continue Church Reforms (April 20, 2005)
  Israeli Leaders Praise Pope Despite Nazi Past (April 20, 2005)
  Pope's Name Pays Homage To Benedict XV (April 20, 2005)
  World's Catholics Hail New Pope (April 19, 2005)
  Germany's Joseph Ratzinger Elected Pope (April 19, 2005)
  Ratzinger's WWII Experiences (April 19, 2005)
  The Symbolism Of 'Benedict' (April 19, 2005)
  The Pope's Next Few Days (April 19, 2005)
  Bush Extends Greeting To New Pope (April 19, 2005)

Videos:

 NYC Germans React To Pope Benedict XVI's Inauguration (April 24, 2005)
 Cardinal Ratzinger Becomes Pope Benedict XVI (April 24, 2005) 
 Installation Mass Of Pope Benedict XVI (Part 1) (April 24, 2005)
 Installation Mass Of Pope Benedict XVI (Part 2) (April 24, 2005) 
 Pope Benedict XVI Greets The Crowd Following Election (April 19, 2005)

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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