Hail Pope Benedict XVI, confidante of John Paul II

Aloys Budi Purnomo, Semarang

On Monday, 115 cardinals from 52 countries representing five continents began the first conclave of the third millennium to elect the 265th Pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (78), a longtime confidant of the late John Paul II, was elected Pope and Bishop of Rome on Tuesday in the Vatican, taking the name Benedict XVI. The new Pope was elected after four or five ballots over two days at the conclave.

Finally, "We have a Pope! Habemus Papam!" It should be noted that "we" here are not only the Catholic Church, but also the world. We know that because the Vatican Council, the Catholic Church, has opened her heart and mind to the outside world and other religions.

Especially, through the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) Church realizes that in this age, when men are drawing more closely together and the bonds of friendship between different people are being strengthened, the Church examines with greater care the relation non-Christian religions.

In many ways the homilies of John Paul II about other religions echo the spirit of Nostra Aetate. It has been the primary inspiration for the late John Paul II's approach to Islam. He was more open to Islam and Muslims than any Pontiff before him. Indeed, this is undoubtedly due in large part to his numerous pastoral visits to Christian minorities living in Muslim countries like Indonesia, Turkey, Kenya, Ghana and Mali.

Based on this vision and mission, what are challenges and demands in today's world and society to be done and promoted by the new Pope? Will Pope Benedict XVI be able to follow the achievements of his successor, especially regarding John Paul's commitment to interreligious and intercultural dialog?

As most know, John Paul II made great achievements in boosting concrete collaboration and cooperation with the leaders of other religions, while remaining conservative and sticking to his own Catholic faith and way of life. He preserved and encouraged the spiritual and moral truths found among non-Christians, also their social life and culture.

Some commentators said it would be very difficult for his successor to follow John Paul II. Is that true? Yes, this is certainly true, but in the perspective of faith, there is nothing impossible. In the 1950s, many people thought Pope Pius XII was the most ideal pope. It was very hard to follow him! Then Pope John XXIII came along. He won everyone's affection and he revolutionized the Church with the Vatican Council II -- a liberal reform movement that effectively modernized the Church. What some considered impossible, happened during his papacy.

We still remember as well how John Paul I captured everyone's affection with his simplicity and smile during the one month he led the Catholic Church.

John Paul II proved himself not just a great leader for the Catholic church but also an eminent moral leader for the world.

Now we have Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German-born prelate. From the history of the Catholic Church we know that each Pope has a responsibility to make decisions for the Church that fit his times. His hands cannot be tied by the policies of his predecessor no matter how great the previous pope was.

Above all, we hope that Benedict XVI will bring us and the world closer to God. In concelebrating a Votive Mass at St. Peter's Basilica together with 114 cardinal electors, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who for two decades had been prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said that the thoughts of Christians had often been tossed about by waves: from Marxism to liberalism, to libertinism, from collectivism to radical individualism, from atheism to religious mysticism, from agnosticism to syncretism.

In such a situation, he emphasized that Christians should have a mature faith, which does not follow fashions and the latest novelty, but is profoundly rooted in friendship with Christ. And he himself was elected Pope by the conclave to bring Christians to mature in their faith.

So what should be done by the new Pope? In my opinion, he should do more in continuing rather than changing Church doctrines and policies. It means he should be liberal on political and economic issues, but traditional on sexual morality and internal Church issues. And also, he ought to support ecumenical and interreligious dialog but remain convinced that the Church has the truth.

In such a case, he can follow his successor, John Paul II.

First, he is expected to have strong compassion for people in the Third World, who are starving and suffering from the negative impact of globalization of the economy. He must speak out for social justice and forgiveness of Third World debt.

Secondly, in the context of pluralism he should understand other religions and must not use inflammatory words like "crusade" against Islam. He also has to support dialog with other religions, but at the same time stand up for the rights of Catholics.

Thirdly, he should promote justice and peace for the world.

Let us pray that the new Pope will do his best not only for the Catholics but also for the everyone in the world, so that the statement "Habemus Papam!" really comes true for all humankind from every race, religion, ideology and nation.

This will become a realty if our new Pope Benedict XVI really shows good will and cooperation in promoting peace and social justice based on a common faith and religious kinship. In short, the new Pope should motivate us all to work together in facing the challenges of helping the world to live in peace and harmony with respect for human dignity of all.

The writer is a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Semarang, and chief editor of INSPIRASI, Lentera yang Membebaskan, Christian monthly magazine. He can be contacted at aloybudipurnomo@plasa.com.