SO THAT’S WHAT ALL THOSE BELLS WERE! His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Am shaking invisible pompoms. …As one of my colleagues once said, “Go Ratzy Go!”

PS: Was immediately struck by the thought of what an awesome responsibility and gift it must be to serve as Pope; this thought swiftly followed by humbling thought that the responsibility and gift of membership in the Catholic Church is equally awesome.

Two snippets from Amy Welborn’s comments box (link is above): “For those who feared a Ratzinger papacy: Benedict will at times surprise and at times disappoint both those who are elated in this moment, and those who are disappointed in this moment. Viva il Papa!”

“You follow Christ, not a human being. Read the homily he preached yesterday, about the mercy and love of God. Eyes on Christ–it’s what he wants.”