"Why They Ran"

Peggy Noonan has a charming and thought-provoking article in the April 21st issue of Opinion Journal, entitled "Why They Ran." She begins by recollecting the sight of the hundreds and thousands of people who came running to St. Peter's Square in Rome when the bells began to toll. "Why did they come running?" she asks. "The faith is dead in Europe, everyone knows that. So why did they come?" And why did so many weep as the new pope came out, she asks. Why did they chant "Benedict, Benedict" as he stood in the balcony? Why were so many non-Catholics similarly moved? And why in America, where Catholics are so divided, did people run to their TVs and radios when the news spread? Read more. She'll make you think.