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Bishop John M. D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend was pleased with the election of Cardinal Josef Ratzinger Bishop to be the next pope, Pope Benedict XVI.
In comments following the announcement Tuesday, D'Arcy said of Benedict, "He is a world-class theologian and was an expert at the Second Vatican Council, so he will continue the reform and renewal of that historic event."
D'Arcy personally met him at ad limina visits, which each bishop makes every five years. He recalled a "very joyous and positive meeting with him" last May, a few days after the bishop's visit with Pope John Paul II. Ratzinger, as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, spent 45 minutes with D'Arcy.
At this meeting, D'Arcy and Ratzinger spoke of the local diocese and the cardinal said, "A great work has been done there for the church." D'Arcy gave credit to the intercession of "Our Lady," however Ratzinger credited D'Arcy for being "the instrument."
D'Arcy said, "He is a humble, very personable man, easy to meet and very gracious. He should rightly be considered as one of the great theologians of this century. In recent years, he twice tried to retire from his work as prefect, but Pope John Paul II said, 'I need you to stay on.'"
The bishop has used the cardinal's material in various retreats he has given, referring especially to his book "Introduction to Christianity" and two articles written on the priesthood.
D'Arcy concluded by saying, "Of all the Cardinals who were talked about as possibilities of being elected, this is the man who knows this (Fort Wayne-South Bend) diocese best of all from my frequent conversations with him. He also is the one of all those cardinals whom I knew best of all. He is a great theologian, pastor, humble priest and a man of keen intellect. He will strengthen the good work done by his predecessor."
Masses for the new pope will be celebrated at 12:05 p.m. Monday at the Cathedral in Fort Wayne, and at 5:30 p.m. Friday at St. Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami St., South Bend.
