“We are very happy about the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as pope. We admire, in particular, his attention to spirituality and the liturgy”, says Msgr. Marian Gavenda in a comment to SIR, expressing all the satisfaction of the Slovak episcopate in the nomination of Benedict XVI. “Throughout the country he says the interest in the outcome of the Conclave was great. Radio and television interrupted their programmes to break the news of the ‘white smoke’ signalling the election of the new pope and people celebrated in the streets. Vatican flags appeared on the roofs of many churches and many houses”. “It is a choice Gavenda concludes that marks continuity with his predecessor. Benedict XVI has already been in Slovakia and is very well informed about the Churches of Eastern Europe”.
