I'm so happy right now I don't know what to do. Work isn't on the list. This is a magnificent choice for Pope and a magnificent day for all.
Hal
Best day ever.
Okay, maybe not ever, but come on, this one's pretty high on the list.
After I heard about the white smoke and bells, and before the announcement, I had a brief, but terrifying thought.
What if it's Cardinal Law?
I had to head-butt a wall to knock some sense into me!
Huzzah!
Obviously wonderful news.
Mark, not to be a kill-joy in this joyous hour, but stay away from Andrew Sullivan's site. He's throwing a hissy-fit on this one.
He's got to wait for another pope to sign off on his "lifestyle" and embrace "modernity". Oh, brother.
Son #4 points out that the conclave was still under the supermajority rule (two-thirds of the votes are needed to elect). Two-thirds on the third ballot - so much for the Church swinging back pendulum-fashion from the orthodoxy of the previous papacy. How happy John Paul the Great must be!
Let's hope that Pope Benedict XVI has a nice long reign following that of John Paul II.
If so, I guess I can finally stop worrying at night that I will see a resurgence of brown and orange rectangular stained glass, nuns in civvies, banners at Mass, and liturgical dance in my lifetime.
Well, it is off to confession tomorrow, and a renewal of my life as a follower of Christ and His representative here on earth: StBenedict XVI.
What makes me chuckle, is that it was only Monday that the school chaplain was telling the pupils that he was praying the new pope would not be Ratzinger 
As K-Lo at NRO suggests,
"Benedict ex vee eye, You're our guy!"
I should be studying for the most important test of my life, which I have to take tomorrow (Canon Law comprehensives), but I'm just sooooo incredibly jazzed and drinking cheap white wine out of my Cardinal Ratzinger fan club mug. Woo hoo!
God bless Pope Benedict XVI ! What a joyous day!
Yip. Yip. Yip. Yahoo. Most excellent day for Holy Mother Church. Our most excellent Cardinal Ratzinger has assumed the Slippers of Peter as Benedict XVI. Would love to be mini teevee camera pointed in offices of National Catholic Reporter/Georgetown Theology Dept./Catholics for Free Choice War Room to observe Wailing/Gnashing of Teeth. More days of woe for organizations listed above. Clear that for our new Pontiff, continuing the legacy of Johannes Paulus Maximus is Job One. This is the day that the Lord has made- Let us rejoice and be glad as the Psalmist wrote.
A BLESSED DAY!
I think it was the column by E.J. Dionne that put Cardinal Ratzinger over the top.
May God bless His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI!
Smoke flies and bells ring,
Hearts fly high on April’s wings,
Joy his new name brings!
Gotta disagree with JCL. I got a big kick out A.Sullivan. Supportive email suggest he should leave the church entirely. That'd teach us!!
Oh yeah, and Long Live Pope BXVI!
I never check Sullivan's site, JCL, but I just had to today. (May God forgive me my gloating.) Sullivan's polemic, which I've grown tired of in the last few years, is over the top now. Our new Papa is the "Grand Inquisitor" for him & he's spouting things like: "The Grand Inquisitor, who has essentially run the Church for the last few years, is now the public face. John Paul II will soon be seen as a liberal. The hard right has now cemented its complete control of the Catholic church." As if Sully's some Vaticano insider. Please, if he didn't get it when John Paul II produced the Theology of the Body, he never will!
But what really got me was the bit you pointed out, JCL, about "modernity"! Your modernity, Andrew, ain't modern!
I liked this, too: "The swiftness of the decision and the polarizing nature of this selection foretell a coming civil war within Catholicism." I'd like to ask Andy who he thinks was the inspiration of this "decision" to elect Cdl Ratzinger. Seems Sullivan's too caught up in his "modernity" to realize that it was the Holy Spirit, not 215 human men, who elected Pope Benedict XVI!
(Man, I really like saying Pope Benedict XVI!)
For Andrew Sullivan, one word: Schadenfreude.
Hallelujah! Habemus Papem! Thank You Holy Spirit! God, in His mercy and goodness, has given us the gift of a new pope -- hurrah!
And the *name*!! BENEDICT -- you know, the guy who helped birth those monasteries that became centers of community (something many are lacking), prayer/liturgy/worship, and renewal. Don't know what this Pope's impact on us will be, but I'm lovin' his name already
I admit, I too was wrong. My instincts were that if he didn't get it by the second ballot, he wouldn't at all, and the best we could hope for would be the defeat of some of the lesser cardinals.
I remember something I once posted here when Mark was complaining about my Eeyoreish outlook: "Look at it this way: When you're a pessimist, all of your surprises are pleasant ones." Boy howdy, I had no idea.
YEEE HAAA!!!
Conservative Anglicans are also delighted by this choice. Because we now have a powerful friend:
http://mcj.bloghorn.com/1629
Have to admit a bit of apprehension when I first saw the white smoke. But in the end, YEEEHAAWW!!! Maybe a bit of a whew! as well. May he live to 105!
Mark,
I have to agree. Thank you, Holy Spirit! Pope Benedict's election just goes to show you that sometimes if you throw enough spaghetti, some of it sticks. At least 77 cardinals figured that out!
Anyone want to join me in a virtual bottle of Champagne? Let's see what's in the cellar....hmmmmm...oh, my. Here's a Bollinger '90 that might work.
I'm handing out glasses.....
"Benedict XVI. Health, long life and holy service to Christ's church and her people."
I've got plenty here, so I'll pass it around.
Ummmm. OK. Maybe it's just the bubbly, but someone tell me that Matthew 16:13-19 was not the Gospel reading for the Mass today.
Hal
Not to make light of such a joyous and blessed occassion, but some of the Italian press are wanting to call the new pope, "Papa Ratzi". Oy vey... 
Cardinal Ratzinger....I mean Pope Benedict XVI.
My MAIN MAN!!! He rocks dude!
Here is a mean comment. Hans Kung is gotta be shitting himself today!
No, USCCB lists today's Gospel as Jn 10:22-30.
I've got to say, this is some of the best news I've ever heard. Pope Benedict is exactly what the Church needs.
OK, good, thanks Matthew- EWTN has it as Matthew. I usually read what they have posted.
Care for a glass of Bollinger?
;>))
Just let them know that MANY MANY Catholic Women Love and support our new pontiff. We respect and admire him, especially his consistent message on the faith!
Long Live Pope Benedict XVI!!!!!
What great mercy. I've been telling the children, "Either we'll get what we need, or we'll get what we deserve." Praise be to God for His kindness! If only there were a German reastaurant in our city. Still, I don't suppose we'd be able to get in tonight even if there were.
I'm doing the "Snoopy dance"!!!!
Here's hoping he reaffirms Spiritus Paraclitus.
May God grant Benedict XVI furtherance in all good things, His divine visitation, and grant him Many Years!
(Hey, I'm Eastern Orthodox--what else can I say?)
In health and happiness.
Woo hoo!
"Would love to be mini teevee camera pointed in offices of National Catholic Reporter/Georgetown Theology Dept./Catholics for Free Choice War Room to observe Wailing/Gnashing of Teeth."
Riffing on Chief Wiggum: "Oh, at last! A legitimate excuse for schadenfreude!"
For a meshugah pun such as this, Dan R., you should only wish to feel so ashamed; feh!
P.S. - call your mother...
World Youth Day this Summer is in Germany! The Pope will be visiting his home country already!
What a wonderful surprise! Praise God, and long live Pope Benedict XVI!
One big "Te Deum laudamus" from one happy German
Brian! I didn't even think of that!
Providence! That's just amazing. Germany's gonna go nuts! Wish I could go.
My first reaction to B16:
OMG!
Another Catholic!
though I have to admit that I didn't think he'd make it, because from my knowledge, he looked forward to retiring from being "Grand Inquisitor" some time in the future and get back to some theological studies. So I told some liberal friends: "He doesn't want to, anyway". But it seems the Holy Spirit thought otherwise and got 114 other guys to bully him into accepting anyway.
And I was thinking: "well, a (or maybe the most) brilliant theologian, but maybe too much of an intellectual", but now I'm happy with HIS choice.
PS. Any thoughts on the name he chose?
Gene,
it'll be interesting how reaction will unfold in the next few days. Ranging between cheers of "Great, we've got the pope, we've got the pope, we've got the pope" to complaints about "this Inquisitor".
Guess official figures will voice "modest approval", while the ususal suspects will tear their shirts.
Anyway, my reaction You can read above.
What I was fearing is already happening, upon his election we'll start seeing people posting about the first "Nazi Pope". Even on CNN they mentioned that he was a member of the Hitler Youth.
Oh boy.
May your reign be long and fruitful, Holy Father! May you go from strength to strength!
Benedict XVI--woo hooooooooooooooo!!!!
Papa Ratzi---LOL!
A friend calls him the German Shepherd. Appropriate, non? Here's hoping he herds the sheep well and faithfully for many years!
Rejoicing,
Diane
Captitan,
Luke 6, 22-23
Gód bless
francis;
Great bible quote. thanks!!!
And Capitan,
if anyone wondered who started this smear - Sunday Times - Sunday Times - Oh, why can't the English ... but I love them still
Much too decent chaps (most of them)
God bless
+J.M.J+
I, too, am glad to be wrong. I didn't think the cardinals would elect him, and almost fell over when his name was announced. That's not a figure of speech, mind you; I literally almost fell backward with surprise!
But it was a good surprise, a happy one. The more I think about it the more sure I am that cardinals made the right choice. God sure knows what He's doing. May He bless our Supreme Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
In Jesu et Maria,
I for one thank GOd for the blogosphere, because it was only through that connection that I was able to know so quickly habemus papam. Did you notice that the Cardinal Ratzinger fan club web page was crashed? My guess is that 20,000 journalists tried to hit it at the same time.
Satan must really be hacked right now.
OK, now for the curious, conspiracy theory angled stuff...
I am glad they settled this today...rather than tomorrow...which is/was Hitler's birthday...that would have sent the fundie-mentals/left behind crowd into a freenzy...
Yeah I know Hitler was an Austrian...but I can just see them connecting the dots ....heck, they probably will anyway.
Kudos to you and Kathy S. on a fine TV appearance.
Hitler's birthday is not today (oops it's almost midnight around here), but tomorrow: April 20.
But that doesn't stop some guys. Somewhere someone drew up a list of thing that also happend at April 19 - mostly bad things. And added: And Hitler was born on April 20.
Yes, and April 1 is ...
Congrats on showing up on MSNBC! It was great seeing you on TV, among all the doom and gloom!
And now Chris Mathews is about to bore us to death with his "expert" Catholic opinions.
sheesh!
Grosser Gott, Wir Loben Dich!!!
Quote lifted from a Yahoo Photo caption, "Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win election."
...now doesn't that just about sum up modernity's belief about the Church in general?
I for one am glad the Church has answered modernity not just with a "no", but with a "HELL NO".
It such a coolfunglorious day to be a black and white, truth loving Catholic.
Herr, wir preisen Deine Stärke!!!
The problem that nobody is addressing because of "political correctness" lies in the fact that as a German, Pope Benedict XVI will have to separate the intricate renewal of German national interests from his mission as Holy Father.
Hopefully, Europe will not become once again victimized by anti-Christian and racist "Germanic" chauvenists in mainstream politics and society, who might try to influence Pope Benedict XVI, for the mere reason that he is German. . .
I'm watching Chris Matthews and his views on Catholicism, please everybody pray for me.
One interesting quote I saw from the cable networks was a little bio on Cardinal Ratzinger, where the MSNBC reporter mentioned;
" ... he was against Liberation."
Of course, he was talking about "Liberation Theology", but how can most viewers know that. So the new Pope is against "Liberation". Great job MSNBC!
Will the MSNBC segment be run again or put on-line? I'd like to see what two of my favorite bloggers actually look like.
Jay Anderson said:
"I think it was the column by E.J. Dionne that put Cardinal Ratzinger over the top."
I totally agree. I sent that to the guy who was running "Papabile", and we both thought it was toooo much. So, E. J., here's to you! ;^)
We're going to Mass in a little bit and then we'll get some champagne and pray seriously. Though I feel bad for Pope Benedict (!) in a way - he's tried to resign several times, and he wanted to retire. Now he's got a job which you do not retire until they carry you out. He needs our prayers in lots of ways.
from a longtime member of the Ratzinger Fan Club!
I'm so happy todaqy, I can hardly contain myself!
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whosepeople we are, God's well-tended flock.
Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name;
good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.
francis.
It is April 20th here right now, and was early in the morning our time when he was elected
I took time off to go to 9 a.m Mass in thanksgiving this morning (now 2 p.m). Our young priest Fr. Gerard and I were discussing only yesterday that we both thought Cdl. Ratzinger would be the one - in fact Fr. Gerard could well be the head honcho in the Ratzinger Fan Club - or "Ratz Pack" 
So this morning as we chatted in an almost self-congratulatory way, I said, " well Fr., I'll now go into the chapel and take up my usual position" (in the pews) To which he promptly replied, " As we all will Don, as we all will."
I am so stoked that we have him to continue the legacy of JP2 in leading Christ's Chuch in the shoes of Peter, and endorse all the other comments.
Habemus Papam!!
Long Live Benedict XVI, and may the good Lord give hiim wisdom and loooooooong life to lead the Church as the Boss Upstairs wish it.
I am in absolute craze for Ratzy. really.
awesome.. (ratzinger).. that is as hard a rock as you can get ^^ ..awesome job from the Holy Spirit!
don,
sorry I'm not very good in "thinking myself into" other time zones (apart from the English, but that's only an hour away), hence the above.
Re Papa Ratzi and German Shepherd, he is also (wait for it).....
"Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domine."
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