The Hindu : International : "I prayed not to be elected Pope"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

International

International

"I prayed not to be elected Pope"

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI said on Monday that he had prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected Pope but that ``evidently this time He didn't listen to me.''

For the first time since his election, Benedict shed light on his feelings inside the conclave, telling an audience of German pilgrims that he viewed the idea of being elected Pope as a ``guillotine.''

Speaking in his native German, Benedict told the audience that at one point during the conclave, when it became clear he was garnering many votes, a fellow cardinal slipped him a note of paper reminding him what he had preached before the conclave about Christ calling Peter to follow him even where he did not want to go.

Benedict (78) said he had hoped to spend his last years living quietly and peacefully.

Swelling votes

``At a certain point, I prayed to God, `Please don't do this to me,''' he told the audience, playfully telling the audience he viewed the swelling votes in his favour as a ``guillotine.''

He recalled saying to God in his prayers: ``You have younger, better, more enthusiastic and energetic candidates.

"Evidently, this time He did not listen to me,'' Benedict said.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope on April 19 after four rounds of balloting in 24 hours, one of the fastest elections in a century. — AP

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