Viva il papa! Life is all about making the right people mad. And won't all the right people be mad today.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI, a lovely choice of name suggesting (1.) St. Benedict and his famous book of Order, (2.) that much like Benedict XV followed St. Pius X, Benedict XVI (in an amazing gesture) will do the same for a future St John Paul II, and (3.) a quieter pastoral papacy after a time of tremendous intellectual controversy and energy. Still perhaps that last bit won't hold true. He'll undoubtedly travel less than JPII but probably write as much or more -- when Cardinal, he was prolific.

My oh my, what a wonderful day.