Bishop Wenski - Statements

HABEMUS PAPAM! April 19, 2005

The shoes of the fisherman are now filled. Pope Benedict XVI now leads the bark of Peter into the new millennium. In choosing Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new pope, they chose a man of great intellect who for more than 20 years was a close collaborator of John Paul II.

As a young priest and theologian he was an influential consultant to the Bishops of the Second Vatican Council. Like John Paul II, he spent the years after the council to the present seeking to assure its faithful implementation. He has served the Church well in many different capacities – as a priest and teacher, as a pastor and archbishop of a large archdiocese in Bavaria, as a cardinal working for the Holy See in a number of different capacities including heading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

A man who has experienced the great upheavals and contradictions of the 20 th century he brings to the office of Pope some of the same qualities that people admired so much in John Paul II, his immediate predecessor: a deep faith, a keen intellect, a love for truth with great humility and the heart of a pastor.

We have been praying that the Holy Spirit would inspire the Cardinals to choose someone who would be a good shepherd to his people. By choosing Benedict XVI, they have chosen wisely.

I have met Cardinal Ratzinger on several occasions in Rome, the most recent occasion was during our Ad Limina visit of March 2004. He met with the bishops of the Southeast region of the United States during which we discussed many items of concern to us. He listened to us – and he showed that he cared for us.

It is significant to recall that Benedict XV was Pope during the beginning of the 20 th century – he became Pope at the beginning of the WWI, and tried without success but for no lack of trying to help negotiate a peace during that horrible conflict. And so at the beginning of the 21 st century, we have another Benedict. He too ascends to the Chair of Peter during a time of great conflict: in Africa there are fratricidal wars in the Sudan and in the Congo. And conflict continues in the Middle East and Terrorism still threatens peace and order throughout the world.

I would think that this Benedict who like John Paul II came of age during the Second World War will also distinguish himself as one who will work for Peace. Hopefully, world leaders as they seek to resolve today’s conflicts will give Benedict XVI a better hearing than their predecessors gave Benedict XV.

Biography: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International Theological Commission, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16 April 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1951 .

His father, a police officer, came from a traditional family of farmers from Lower Baviera . He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, and was called into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World War II. From 1946 to 1951, the year in which he was ordained a priest and began to teach, he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich and at the higher school in Freising. In 1953 he obtained a doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled: "The People and House of God in St. Augustine ’s doctrine of the Church". Four years later, he qualified as a university teacher. He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy and theology of Freising, then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969, Münster from 1963 to 1966, Tubinga from 1966 to 1969. From 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice President of the same university.

Already in 1962 he was well known when, at the age of 35, he became a consultor at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joseph Frings. Among his numerous publications, a particular post belongs to the ‘Introduction to Christianity’, a collection of university lessons on the profession of apostolic faith, published in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral ministry, published in 1973.

In March 1977, Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on 28 May 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years to take over the pastoral ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Paul VI in the consistory of 27 June 1977 . Titular churches, suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni ( 5 April 1993 ) and suburbicarian see of Ostia ( 30 November 2002 ).

On 25 November 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical Commission and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission.

Relator of the 5 th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980).

President Delegate to the 6 th Synodal Assembly (1983).

Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, 6 November 1998 .  On 30 November 2002 , the Holy Father approved the election, by the order of cardinal bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals.

President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to the Holy Father.

Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta, 10 November 1999 .

Honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 13 November 2000 .

Curial Membership:

• Secretariat of State (second section)
• Oriental Churches , Divine Worship and Sacraments, Bishops, Evangelization of Peoples, Catholic Education (congregations)
• Christian Unity, Culture (councils)
• Latin America , Ecclesia Dei (commissions)