Local Catholics cheer new pope

Elia Powers

The Rev. Monsignor Lawrence J. Baird had just returned from a morning

mass at St. John Vianney Chapel, where he prayed for the naming of a

worthy pontiff, when he heard the news coming from Vatican City.

“I turned on the television and said, ‘That smoke is white

[signaling that a new pope had been elected],’” said Baird,

administrator of two Newport Beach congregations -- St. John Vianney

Chapel and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. “That mass certainly had

its effect. I was thrilled. It’s a great day for the church.”

After more than 24 hours of closed-door meetings, the Roman

Catholic cardinals named Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger the 265th leader

of the Roman Catholic Church.

Ratzinger, 78, who chose the name Pope Benedict XVI, will replace

John Paul II, who died April 2 at the age of 84.

A renowned theologian and doctrinal watchdog, the German-born

Ratzinger was considered the front runner for the papacy because of

his close theological alignment with John Paul II.

“He was a logical choice,” said former Newport Beach Mayor Dennis

O’Neil, an Our Lady Queen of Angels congregant and a law partner at

Hewitt & O’Neil law firm in Irvine. “It seems we have a new pope who

will follow the teachings of the church and will uphold traditional

values, so I’m pleased.”

Baird, who said he has been exchanging Christmas cards with

Ratzinger for the past 10 years, said the new pope was a student and

a mentor of John Paul II.

“He’s an articulate theologian and thinker,” Baird said. “He has a

passion for Europe and wants to help stop the de-Christianization in

the region.”

Baird said he hopes Pope Benedict XVI will carry on the late

pope’s legacy, including making regular international visits and

reaching out to various religions.

The relatively swift conclave is likely proof that the College of

Cardinals had great respect for Ratzinger, Baird said.

O’Neil and Baird agreed that there seemed to be a sense among

cardinals that the church wasn’t ready for a pope from the Southern

Hemisphere, where Catholicism is blossoming.

The Rev. Martin Benzoni of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in

Costa Mesa said he was surprised the conclave didn’t last longer.

He said he is looking forward to taking a group from Orange County

to Germany this summer for World Youth Day.

Benzoni said he is confident Pope Benedict XVI is the right man to

lead the Catholic Church.

“He will continue to take a disciplined approach and is a blessing

for Western Europe, where the church is at a critical juncture,” he

said.

Corona del Mar resident Joelle Casteix, the Orange County

spokeswoman for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said

she was surprised by the cardinals’ choice.

“Cardinal Ratzinger has been a very divisive figure within the

church, and it’s his job to solve squabbles,” Casteix said. “He

hasn’t been seen as a compassionate figure in terms of handling

sexual-abuse cases in the church.”

Casteix said Ratzinger has received many of the abuse reports and

has often failed in his duties to respond to allegations.

But she said her organization is willing to be supportive of the

pope as he sets the church’s agenda.

“He has a fantastic opportunity,” Casteix said. “There is no moral

relativism when it comes to the molestation of children. We hope

taking care of those who have been abused becomes a top priority.”

Casteix said she doesn’t expect major doctrinal reform under the

new pope because of his conservative history.

And she said the church is ready for another “dynamic leader.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.