Diocese expresses joy on news of Pope Benedict XVI

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
April 21, 2005

The administrator of the Diocese of Sioux City said the news of the election of Pope Benedict XVI as the Vicar of Christ was received with great joy.

"I believe that as Bishop of Rome and as shepherd of the universal church, Pope Benedict XVI will guide us to the knowledge of Christ and his love for us. All of us on our life's journey must always seek for a mature faith that is profoundly rooted in friendship with Jesus Christ," said Msgr. Roger Augustine, diocesan administrator, in a statement. It was released to Sioux City media at a press conference held on April 19 just hours after the election of the new pope.

He pointed out that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, served the church as a priest, as Bishop of Munich and as leader of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under John Paul II.

"I believe that he truly recognizes that priests are here to serve and must give fruit that endures. I pray that his love for Christ and his church will be blessed and he now gives his life and ministry to the Lord Jesus as the Vicar of Christ on this earth," said the diocesan administrator.

To honor the new pope, the diocese plans to hold a citywide noon Mass of celebration on April 22 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

He pointed out that as the cardinals met in the conclave "they had to believe that the choice of this pope is the choice of God and they had to be discerning what the spirit was telling them."

Msgr. Augustine described Pope Benedict XVI as a very intellectual person, a great listener, deep thinker, great theologian and philosopher.

"He understands dogma, the teachings of the church, the creed of the church very, very well," said Msgr. Augustine.

The diocesan administrator met with then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger last November during the ad limina visit of the diocese to the Vatican. He mentioned that in addition to meeting with Pope John Paul II, the bishops of Region 9 also met with various congregations including the Congregation of the Faith, headed by Cardinal Ratzinger. That meeting centered on questions about the faith and lasted 60 to 75 minutes.

Msgr. Augustine found Cardinal Ratzinger to be a gentle person - nothing boisterous.

"He's a very dignified person, very knowledgeable," he said. He added that upon meeting the cardinal he didn't size him up as to whether he would make a good pope because while Pope John Paul II was sick, the late pope was still very much in charge at the time.

Because the new pope was a close confidant and associate of John Paul II, Msgr. Augustine said he assumed there would be continuity in theology "but of course he is his own person." As the pope, he said the pontiff's main responsibility is to be "a defender of the faith - the faith that Jesus has given to us."

He pointed out that popes select their own name. Given that Pope Benedict XV, who led the Catholic Church between 1914 and 1922, had worked for world peace back at the time of WWI Msgr. Augustine said in choosing the name Benedict the new pontiff may be sending the message that he is a peacemaker.

Msgr. Augustine anticipated that all parishes in the diocese would hold a Mass in Pope Benedict XVI's honor.