An Anniversary to Remember
I remembered that today October 17, was Pope John Paul I’s birthday, but totally forgot that yesterday was the anniversary of his successor’s election — a momentous day in the history of the Church. So a look back, a little belatedly:
Here’s his talk translated from Italian:
Praised be Jesus Christ! [Crowd: May he always be praised!]
Dearest brothers and sisters,
We all remain sorrowing after the death of our beloved Pope John Paul I. Yet here, the Eminent Cardinals have called forth a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a far country… far, but always so close in the communion of the faith and in the Christian tradition.
I was afraid at receiving this nomination, but I have done so in the spirit of obedience to our Lord, and in total trust of his Mother, our Most Blessed Lady. Also, I don’t know if I can explain myself well in your… in our Italian language. If I make a mistake, you will correct me!
And thus I present myself to you all, to confess our common faith, our hope, our trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church, so to begin again along this road of history and of the Church — to begin it again, with the help of God and the help of men.
