pontiff

As the first non-Italian Pontif f for four centuries, the Cardinals who voted him into office 26 years ago obviously believed him to be a man of such charisma and energy that he was capable of shattering the Roman-moulded image of the Papacy fo r years to come.

The clause in question was significantly changed, as the centrality of the Church became more expressly articulated: "to serve the Lord alone and the Church, His spouse, under the Roman Pontif, the vicar of Christ on earth."(59) Now the direct objects of service are Christ and the Church - not Christ and the Roman Pontiff as previously.

56 See, especially, Schuyler Brown, Apostasy and Perseverance in the Theology of Luke (Analecta Biblica 36: Pontif. Bib.

Sister Restituta Kafka, the nun honoured by the Pontif openly opposed the Nazis and referred to Hitler as "the madman".

Yesterday sun also marked a personal milestone for the Pontif who turned 78 on May 18.