Tuesday,
March 12 has arrived. The Cardinals will commence the conclave in which
the new Holy Father will be elected. Over the ensuing day(s), the
Cardinal electors will cast their ballot. Once a 2/3 majority has been
reached, the Cardinal Deacon will proclaim a great joy, Habemus Papam. In their remarks before teh Urbi et Orbi blessing, our most recent Holy Fathers, John Paul II and
Benedict XVI, both referenced Mary in their remarks. As we await the announcement of the next Habemus
Papam, let us look briefly at their references.
John Paul II
Praised be Jesus Christ! Dear
brothers and sisters, we are still all very saddened by the death of the very
dear Pope John Paul I. And now the most eminent cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They called him from a
far-away country...far, but always near in the communion of faith and the
Christian tradition. I was afraid in receiving this nomination, but I did it in
the spirit of obedience to Our
Lord and with total trust in his
Mother, the Most Holy Madonna.
I don't know if I can express myself well in your – in our – Italian language. But if I make a
mistake, you will correct me. And so I introduce myself to you all, to confess
our common faith, our hope, our
trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church, and also to begin again on this
path of history and of the Church with the help of God and with that of men.
There are a few important points
that indicate the initial Marian fervor of John Paul II's papacy. First,
he acknowledged the maternal role of Mary, not only of Christ, but also of the
Church. Secondly, he regarded the holiness of Mary by saluting her as the
"Most Holy Madonna." Thirdly, it was evident that John Paul II
had a great deal of trust in the intercession of Mary as he referred to trust
twice. In his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, John Paul II described his election: "It was
to Christ the Redeemer that my feelings and my thoughts were directed on 16
October of last year, when, after the canonical election, I was asked: "Do
you accept?" I then replied: "With obedience in faith to Christ, my
Lord, and with trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church, in spite of the
great difficulties, I accept”(Redemptor Hominis, 2). In his remarks to those gathered at St.
Peter’s Square, John Paul reiterated the acceptance he gave in the
conclave. The best summation of John
Paul II’s trust in the Virgin Mother perhaps was best seen in his motto, Totus
Tuus, Totally Yours.
Benedict XVI
Dear Brothers and Sisters, After the great
Pope John Paul II, the Lord Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble
worker in the vineyard of the Lord. I am consoled by the fact that the Lord
knows how to act, even with inadequate instruments and above all I entrust
myself to your prayers. In the joy of the Risen Lord, trusting in His permanent
help, as we go forward the Lord will help us, and His Mother, Mary Most Holy, will be at our side. Thank you.
Similar to John Paul
II, Benedict referred to Mary both as Mother and Most Holy. He indicated a certain degree of trust in
Mary, but not as explicit as John Paul II’s.
Benedict saw Mary as a guide, as someone who would journey with the
Church and be at her side.
The Next Holy Father
And so now we wait for
the signal of white smoke and tolling bells for the initial words of our next
Holy Father. John Paul II and Benedict
XVI had a beautiful way of writing and speaking about the Virgin Mary throughout their papacy, but it all started from their papal announcement. Now we will wait to see if the new Holy Father will follow his two immediate predecessors.
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