Happy Anniversary

Today the Holy Father celebrates the third anniversary of his election as successor of Peter. Three years ago, he was chosen by his peers in the fourth ballot of the conclave to assume history's longest continuous leadership role. As I reflect on his papacy, all I can say is that I have been pleasantly surprised. By far, he has been an excellent pope and one who will definitely leave a positive mark on the Church. His words are compassionate and straightforward and easy to follow... written for the common man. He is man of the humanities and a lover of beauty. His reserved demeanor is soothing and reassuring. In teaching, firm and guiding. Truly, a shepherd for God's people.

Holy Father, may our Lord grant you long life, continued wisdom and great strength. Thank you for your ministry in the footsteps of the fisherman.

Prior to the Solemn Blessing at the Mass at Saint Patrick's, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father. The following is a translation of said message, originally delivered in Spanish.

Holy Father, as we conclude this beautiful and vibrant Eucharistic Celebration, we feel the profound need to remember a significant event. As we all know, today is the third anniversary of your election as supreme shepherd of the Catholic Church.

On behalf of the College of Cardinals, the Bishops, priests, women religious, men religious, and lay all over the world, I express my gratitude for your unyielding, and generous "yes" that initiated a new pontificate.

You, the Holy Father, have placed in our hands three gifts of inestimable value: the encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, the meditation on Jesus of Nazareth, and the encyclical, Spes Salvi. Furthermore, your Pastoral visit to this land creates a bridge of spirituality and holiness to bring the message that Christ is Hope. ----- Your Holiness has taken with tenacity into your hands the most significant task of the papacy: to bring judgement of the separation between truth and falseness in a passionate proclamation of that which is true and good.

Your first encyclical promulgates the unrelenting relationship between the different forms of human love and the theological virtue of charity.


The second explores the complicated relationship between legitimate and illicit hope fostered by the modern man and the supernatural virtue of hope--great hope that is the foundation of all.

In your book, Jesus of Nazareth, you have made resplendent the light of Christ before the men and women of today's world. Through this you have accomplished the recommendation of Peter, "Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Holy Father, thank you for your magisterium, your tenderness as universal father and for your vocation as high priest. We offer you our affectionate filial love and our complete fidelity for many years to come.

The Holy Father's response:

In this moment I can only thank grace for your love of the church, for the love of our Lord, and the love you give to me, a poor successor of Saint Peter, I will also all the possible to be a real successor of the grand Saint Peter who also was a man with his faults and sins but he remains finally the rock for the church and so also, I, with all my poorness spiritual, can be with the grace of the Lord, in this time, a successor of Peter. And say prayers, your love for me give me the certainty that the Lord will help me in this ministry. I am deeply thankful for your love for your prayers and my answer this moment to all you have given me in this visit is my blessing at the end of the Holy Mass.