Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was elected the 265th pope on April 19, 2005. Pope Benedict appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s at exactly 11:40 a.m. Central Standard Time which is the apparition time of Our Lady in Medjugorje. In Italy, Marija was waiting, along with the world, for the next pope to step out on the balcony. It was a long delay from the time the white smoke appeared until the new pope walked out on the balcony of St. Peter’s. Marija was praying the Rosary in anticipation of Our Lady’s coming, while watching the empty balcony on an Italian network. Marija had finished her Rosary and began reciting the Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s and Glory Be’s for the arrival of Our Lady. Just seconds before the moment of the apparition, the broadcaster announced the new pope was stepping out. It was at this moment Our Lady appeared to Marija. The whole world watched as the former Cardinal Ratzinger, now the new pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, stepped out onto the balcony while Marija watched Our Lady! Instantly the whole world knew who it was within only a few seconds, while Marija did not know! Marija told us that she went into ecstasy just as the new pontiff was going to step out. She said she didn’t know who it was until after the apparition! A Friend of Medjugorje later asked Marija about this timing of the pope stepping out after more than an hour’s delay after the appearance of the white smoke, right at the same time of the apparition. This could not be by chance, but must be a sign from God that Pope Benedict XVI was Our Lady’s choice. Marija agreed. It was a sign for her as well. When Marija was asked what did this long delay mean when it ended exactly with the moment Our Lady appeared, Marija said something profound. She said it meant, “The Church is safe!†Cardinal Ratzinger’s choice of names was also revealing. His predeccesor, Pope Benedict XV, reigned from 1914-1922, the pope of World War I and also of Fatima. Pope Benedict XV added the title “Queen of Peace†into the Litany of Loreto and called upon the Church to use this invocation to ask Our Lady’s intercession for peace. When Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje, 40 years later, She called Herself the Queen of Peace. Pope John Paul II believed Medjugorje was the fulfillment of Fatima. Ratzinger was also a believer in the Medjugorje apparitions. Had he chosen the name of Pope Benedict XVI believing that in the time of his pontificate, the Queen of Peace would begin Her reign through Her victory?
