Comments on: It’s been ~eight years that would fill a lifetime. Where were you when it started?

By: Cosmas Ojemen

Cosmas Ojemen — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:26:27 +0000

God bless Benedict XVI and may God abide abundantly in His Church. May God manifest His choice for the next Pope as He inspires the Cardinals to choose correctly.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:24:04 +0000

I was at work at Earthlink in Atlanta explaining the meaning and significance of the selection of an intellectual Cardinal from Germany, so loyal to JPII, to pagans. I’ll never for get the void that was filled at his selection. I had a whole in my heart when John Paul died that was instantly filled. God is guiding us!

By: Christine Puliselic

Christine Puliselic — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:25:40 +0000

Was worshipping at a small Catholic Church in Winston Salem, NC and a very irreverent priest was speaking about a new shepherd and stated he hoped it wouldn’t be a German shepherd. He offended a lot of people who left and went to another church. For a Franciscan, he was full of pride.

By: Kathi

Kathi — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:24:21 +0000

I remember my friend telling her first grade religious ed class that the cardinals were all flying in from all over the world to elect the new pope and that they would be wearing red. They kept looking at her funny and she finally realized that they thought she was talking about the red birds.

By: Lisa Wheeler

Lisa Wheeler — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:17:38 +0000

We started the first full-service Catholic PR and communications on the eve of John Paul II’s pontificate and the dawn of Pope Benedict’s, and now 8 years later, that mission ironically has come to an end just weeks ago itself and a new mission for the Church has emerged on the eve of this pontificate and the dawn of this new moment in pontifical history. I was atop the collonade’s in St. Peter’s Square at Benedict’s installation Mass. I think back in joy, and look forward in hope!

By: Michael Lavigne

Michael Lavigne — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:04:59 +0000

I was enjoying the company of my newborn son (born hours before the Pope’s election) and my wife! Will never forget the images on the television of the white smoke. Thank you Pope Benedict XVI!!!

By: Deacon Joseph

Deacon Joseph — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:02:56 +0000

I had been watching the news all month in April 2005; I had also had the idea of the priesthood in the back of my mind for ten about ten years since my confirmation. The day he was elected, I was working at a grocery store and my last fifteen minute break of the day coincided with the announcement. I was not going to leave until I knew who the next pope would be. (I was a bit of a news junkie.)

That night I finally sent my first e-mail into the vocations office. It wasn’t because I knew at all who Ratzinger was – I had only heard things in the press, which weren’t glowing reports from the secular age – but it was because that was the Lord’s definitive moment of calling for me.

I am a proud member of the JPII generation and a “JPII vocation”, but I will ALWAYS be a BXVI man!

By: Antonio A. Badilla

Antonio A. Badilla — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:16:18 +0000

I was in class when it happened and I was told to turn on the T.V. set. I did and several teachers came into my classroom to watch the unfolding events with all of my students. As soon as I heard the word “Joseph” I knew who had been elected and I was filled with nothing but joy.