.- There is great pride in the German-American community that the current Pope is their fellow countryman. Parishioners at the German parish of St. Alphonsus in Chicago dedicated a special mass yesterday in honor of the new Pope, reported ABC Channel 7. St. Alphonsus, founded in 1882 as a German parish, is one of the only parishes in the archdiocese that still celebrates mass in the German language.
In his homily, Fr. James Hurlbert noted that during the 20th century, there was hostility toward Germans because of their homeland's involvement in wars and atrocities. For many, the election of Cardinal Ratzinger is confirmation the world has forgiven.
"I think Germans from around the Chicago community will be gathering as they often do at the holidays, but in celebration of the fact that one of their countrymen or somebody who has emerged from their culture and language has been elected to be pope of the universal church," the pastor told ABC.
The archdiocese held a special mass Sunday evening at Holy Name Cathedral in honor of the new Pope.
