The permanent council of the German Bishops’ Conference, meeting in Mainz on 25 April, has sent a message of congratulations and good wishes to the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI. The bishops say they are “full of great joy and gratitude” for the election of Cardinal Ratzinger: “For us German bishops, the fact that a former colleague in the German Bishops’ Conference has been elected as Head of the Church has a profound significance. Many of us have been linked to you for years. For many of us you have been an inspiring professor of theology. Many of us treasure personal memories of you during your period as archbishop of Munich and Freising”, say the bishops in their letter to the new Pope, recalling his past years at the service of the German Church. “Your particular links with the German Church also continued during the 23 years in which you worked as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome”, the bishops stress. “Venerated Holy Father, your country is Germany. The faithful of your native land welcomed your election with joy and also with no little pride. In 113 days’ time the World Youth Day is due to open in Germany. This great event should be for the youth of the world, and also for Christians in Germany, a festival of the faith, a festival of the Community of the Church and an occasion for a new missionary beginning. The fact that you will celebrate WYD in Cologne together with youth from all over the world, fills us with great joy”. The bishops promise their prayers, combined with those of all the faithful, so that the “Spirit of the Lord may rest in you, strengthen you and lead you to bless the people of God and the world. We bishops pledge you our love, our fidelity, and our full support for the heavy burden that you are now carrying. May the Lord grant you a pontificate full of blessing by the power of the Holy Spirit”.
