Hometown erupts in cheers for new Pope
Students at St Michael’s Seminary in Traunstein, Germany, pumped their hands in the air and the school’s director was in tears.
“I’m completely overwhelmed. I can’t fathom what happened,” said the Reverend Thomas Frauenlob.
“He eats with us. I can’t grasp it. I know he’s going to do a really good job.”
The class then joyfully ran together into church for Mass.
“It’s fantastic that it’s Cardinal Ratzinger. I met him when he was here before and I found him really nice,” said Lorenz Gradl, 16, who was confirmed by Cardinal Ratzinger in 2003.
The new Pope was born in the town of Marktl Am Inn, but the family moved often because of his father’s job as a police officer.
He wrote in his memoirs that he considered Traunstein his hometown.
He visits the town often, and stays in an apartment at the seminary.
People in Traunstein say they’ve seen Pope Benedict XVI’s softer side, despite his reputation as a theological hardliner.
Mr Frauenlob said the cardinal came home to confirm teenagers and spent time ministering to the old and sick.
Joseph Ratzinger returned to Traunstein after deserting the German army in 1945, and it was where he was taken prisoner by US troops.
After his release, he hitched a ride home on a milk truck.
THE Pope is not only the supreme head of the Catholic Church but has a string of other titles.
He is bishop of Rome, vicar of Christ, successor of St Peter, Prince of the Apostles, primate of Italy, patriarch of the West, archbishop and metropolitan of the Roman Province, sovereign of Vatican City and Servant of the Servants of God.
Only he can appoint Roman Catholic bishops, create dioceses or make an infallible pronouncement in “matters of faith and morals”.
He also creates cardinals, names saints and mediates disputes between the Vatican and local bishops.
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