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Divine Providence gave to the Church a German Pope. For centuries there was no Pope from Germany. There are many German saints. There is a “Doctor” of the Church, St. Albert in the history, but apparently, Benedict XVI is the first German Pope. He is, however, from a special district in Germany. Germany has been German since the time of the Romans. Bavaria emerged as a special land in the 8th century. Rather of Celtic blood and descent, Bavarians are the descendents of the Boyos, (Boyo-Vardia-Bavaria), people of special characteristics. People of the District of St. Rupert, (Bavarians and West Austrians on the other side of the border), were evangelized in the 8th century by St. Rupert, the Bishop of Juvavum (Salzburg). They were a little different people than the rest of the Germans: more akin to the Austrian populations. These were people of open heart and open mind, un-biased, jolly and joyous, comprehensive and kind to everybody. They are also people of a very colourful language in Germany. (Two hundred years ago Bavaria was a separated kingdom.) As to religion, they are stout Catholics, to the marrow of their bones, from the 8th century up to our times. They do not emphasize this characteristic, but simply it is so. Bavaria means “catholic”, no joke and no compromise. Was not Regensburg, the beloved city of Erzbischof Ratzinger, the seat of the Cecilian Movement, which, with its classical, deeply spiritual and light compositions, nourishing, for nearly two centuries, the liturgical life of the whole Church? Father Konrad Meyer, a saintly priest, priest of the poor and a great preacher, is still waiting in his tomb in Munich for his canonization. (It is possible, he will be the first Bavarian saint, canonized by the first Bavarian Pope). Prior to my immigration to Canada, I was Pastor of a small Bavarian Parish on a hill, (Bavaria is located on hills), and Chaplain of a great women’s Monastery (Sisters of the Visitation), located in one of the old Bavarian castles. It was the most wonderful year of all my priestly life and work. There is a true “Bavarian” story: There was a priest in one of the families of the Parish. He was called to the army in W.W.II and lost his life (for “Hitler and the Third Reich”). His younger brother had a prosperous shoe factory. He then decided to sell everything and to replace his brother as the priest. He did very good work for the youth as a Salesian priest. I was present at his first Mass in the Parish of Zangberg. What an exuberant Bavarian celebration! For a whole day, the ladies of the Parish were busy decorating the interior of the church with evergreens. On the eve of the feast, the grandmother went to the open air and, looking toward the skies, she spoke to her dead husband: “Gelt.” (“I am sure”) you will be with us on this beautiful day.” Suddenly a meteor crossed the skies. She burst into tears… We all should know that our new Pope is Bavarian. Bavarians are special people whom everybody likes and who like everybody. Maybe the new Pope will teach us how to be comprehensive and kind to everybody in the world and to be happy in the Church. In my opinion, we are looking forward to a bright future of Christianity with Pope Benedict XVI. Reverend George M. Svoboda Retired Priest of St-Boniface, Manitoba, Canada |