Vatican City, Apr 19, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Earlier today, newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, formerly, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivered his first homily at a Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the gathered College of Cardinals.
In it, he expressed his great affection for the late Pope John Paul II and noted his profound influence on the modern Church.
“It seems”, he said, “I can feel his strong hand squeezing mine; I seem to see his smiling eyes and listen to his words, addressed to me especially at this moment: 'Do not be afraid!'”
He said that John Paul left “us a Church that is more courageous, freer, younger. A Church that, according to his teaching and example, looks with serenity to the past and is not afraid of the future.”