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Bishop in square for pick

By Tony Staley and Jeff Kurowski
Compass Staff

The election of German Card. Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI "signals that the cardinals want to continue the strong, courageous, spiritual and pastoral leadership of Pope John Paul," said Bp. David Zubik on the day of the selection.

Pope Benedict XVI is a brilliant theologian who was very loyal to Pope John Paul II as his most trusted advisor, Bp. Zubik told The Compass in a telephone interview from Rome.

	Bishop David Zubik

Seminarians at the North American College in Rome were "jubilant by the selection," he said. Many of the seminarians have gotten to know the new pope because he ordained many of them to the diaconate and he has paid special attention to them, Bp. Zubik said.

Bp. Zubik left Green Bay for Rome on Monday and arrived only hours before the election. He was standing below the balcony of St. Peter's when the white smoke began pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney and bells began ringing to signal the election of the new pope. He was still there when the new pontiff was introduced to the crowds below and via television to the entire world.

In a cell phone conversation before the identity of the new pope was known, he said it was an "incredible" and "unbelievable" experience to be there.

Bp. Zubik had a front row seat because the Green Bay Diocese's seminarians studying at the North American College had gone early and saved him a place. Bp. Zubik had gone to Rome to visit the seminarians and to meet with church officials.

He said he met the new pope twice, in 1998 and 2004 on ad limina visits to Rome, when the then Card. Joseph Ratzinger spoke with delegations from the various regions and talked to them about issues facing the church internationally, in the U.S. and their dioceses. While they have shaken hands, they have never had a one-on-one conversation, Bp. Zubik said.

Pope Benedict's ability to speak several languages means he will continue to carry out the universal aspects of the church as Pope John Paul did, Bp. Zubik said.

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He said he had no concern about the pope's age - 78 - noting that Pope John XXIII was nearly 78 when he was elected in 1959 "and look what happened with him. He started the great movement of the Spirit with the Second Vatican Council. This is God's church. We must be open to the Spirit and pay close attention."

Bp. Zubik also said he was inspired by Pope Benedict's first words to the world after his election. And, he said he had his fingers crossed and hoped to meet with Pope Benedict before returning to Green Bay on Friday.

In a statement released by the diocese, Bp. Zubik said, "Together with all of our sisters and brothers in the Universal church we, the faithful of the Church of Green Bay, rejoice in the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. The choice by the cardinals signifies their openness to the Holy Spirit - that the strong, courageous and charismatic leadership of Pope John Paul II will continue. As I stood in St. Peter's Square today with our three seminarians and said a quiet prayer for our new Pope, I knew those prayers were joined with the faithful of the Church of Green Bay."

At a press conference in the diocesan office, Auxiliary Bp. Robert Morneau, pastor of Resurrection Parish, Green Bay, said, "I wasn't surprised. Card. Ratzinger is very well respected."

Pope Benedict has "a strong sense of culture and faith. I know he is very concerned about Western Europe. He will be deeply involved in the political scene," said Bp. Morneau. The new pontiff's greatest challenge, he said, would be "how to bring the gospel into this 21st century, especially to the young people, those ages 25 to 40."

Bp. Morneau said that having a second-consecutive non-Italian pope is "great for the universal church. I believe our next pope may come from a country in Central America."

As for differences between the two men, Bp. Morneau said, "Pope John Paul II had a charisma that when young people saw him they were immediately drawn to him. He (Pope Benedict) is not as dramatic. He's a strong leader and is very diligent. I'm not sure that he will be doing all the traveling that Pope John Paul II did. Pope John Paul II made 102 apostolic visitations, traveling to 127 different countries. It's much easier for a Pope who is 58 years-old to travel, compared to a pope who is 78, but Pope Benedict will be traveling some."

Concerning the new pope's name, Bp. Morneau said, "If he would have selected Pope John Paul III, it would have put him in a very difficult position. It's like taking over for Brett Favre and having the same name and number. It was wise for him to take a different name."