Among the crowds in St Peter's Square yesterday were many from Pope Benedict's home country, who overcame their reticence to celebrate. Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent, reports from Rome
Stefan Rieger would not say he was proud to be German yesterday. "It is difficult to say 'proud', especially with our history," said the 37-year-old fireman from Berphalz near Regensburg in Bavaria. "But I am happy that he is Pope. I am happy that this man is Pope."
In St Peter's Square after the investiture ceremony, Stefan had just stood up from an awkward angle after taking photographs of his group of firefighters and gun club members in traditional regalia from Pope Benedict's home ground in Germany.
About 20 of them, men and women, had posed behind a long banner that read "Pantling gratulert seinem Ehremburger Papst Benedikt XVI." Stefan struggled to translate. Pantling was the local large town.
The rest read "Congratulations to an honoured local man, Pope Benedict XVI" (or words to that effect). Their area was "the home of the Pope. He was there for 25-30 years," Stefan said, explaining that after the Pope was ordained he continued to live there when teaching at Regensburg.
"He is very special, [ we] all know him personally, [ he is] very normal. He doesn't like such big events. He wants to read and write books," continued Stefan, reflecting on how the Pope was probably feeling about the day, as the clean-up began of a still-crowded St Peter's Square.
There were empty water bottles and litter strewn everywhere. A juggler entertained to a drummer's beat, dropping a ball once and drawing jeers from the crowd. Groups of girl guides sat in circles eating sandwiches and people with flags dawdled everywhere in the sunshine.
"When we have big events [ for him] in our village he is there when they take place, but then he wants to go home. He is not someone who wants to be above anyone," continued Stefan warmly.
Fr Christopher Eichkorn was carrying a large European Union flag with a smaller German one above it.
From the Black Forest area in Freiberg diocese near the German/Swiss border, he was in St Peter's yesterday with his sisters Cornelia and Dominica. All are in their 30s or 40s.
"We are very glad to have a Pope from Bavaria - the first German one for 500 years. From the country which started the Reformation, and from which started two world wars. We now have a special chance to start a new time in our country," he said.
He attributed the happenings of the past week to Pope John Paul II. "He had a vision of a first World Youth Day of the 21st century should be in Germany. From the beginning of the 20th century there had been two negative movements from Germany. From the beginning of the 21st century we should have a positive movement from Germany," he said.
But Fr Christopher was intrigued. "He [ Pope John Paul] didn't know that World Youth Day of 2005 [ in Cologne next August] would be led by a German Pope. August will be the beginning of Pope John Paul's vision."
The election of Pope Benedict had been "good for the German people", he said, but he was "shocked" when it happened.
"I couldn't believe a Pope would come from Germany."
Cornelia was happy the Pope was so "very intelligent", which was more than she felt she could say for Germany's politicians.
"I am proud we have a good Pope," she said. Dominica felt there was no better man to continue the legacy of John Paul.
All three were annoyed at the portrayal of Pope Benedict's election in the British tabloid press. They were "very unhappy with English tabloid headlines", said Fr Christopher.
For Albert Traub (33) and Christina Bergmacrn (36), yesterday had been "a great event". Albert, who is from near Lake Constance, couldn't believe Cardinal Ratzinger would be elected Pope. "I just had a feeling he was not to the forefront [ enough]. And some time ago he told his brother [ Georg (81), a priest] that he would not say yes [ if elected Pope]. It was very surprising."
Christina said: "It is 450 years since we had a German Pope and it will probably be the last we'll see. It is very good a German Pope will be coming to Cologne. It will be the German Pope's first big meeting."
Christina Weinzier from Rohrdorf, near Munich, was also angry with the British tabloids. She and Joseph Stocker from the same village were "a little disappointed about the British newspapers. They should give him a chance first."
The new Pope had confirmed her brother when he was archbishop in Munich, Christina said. His election had been " an honour for Germany".
She felt the fact that he - a German - was chosen to be Pope indicated that a world which had held the German people guilty over treatment of the Jews was prepared to work together with Germany, other religions, and one another.
"He will aim to bring Christians together - Orthodox, Lutheran, and Catholics. That is very important," said Joseph, his bare legs beginning to redden in the sun as he stood in traditional costume holding a Bavarian flag.
There were Irish there too. Five members of the Knights of Columbanus were in spectacular dark green costume with plumes atop.
Supreme Knight Charlie McDonald explained they had been invited by the Holy See, as they had attended Pope John Paul's funeral.
They were very honoured, he said. Seating-wise yesterday they had been "very lucky. We were in before 8am and sat right behind the Italian cabinet," he said.
Just as lucky were parishioners from the Ardlea parish in Dublin's Artane. Waving their Tricolours, they had been scheduled to be in St Peter's Square yesterday anyhow, from as far back as last November, when they made their plans.
John Dehon, founder of the Sacred Heart Fathers, who run their parish, was due to be beatified yesterday, but that was postponed when Pope John Paul died.
"It was a blessing in disguise," said one woman before realising what she had said, and then attempting a quick about-turn. What she meant to say, Florence Murphy suggested tactfully, was that "God works in mysterious ways. We came to this instead." And they intend coming to Rome again for the beatification, whenever that happens.