Where There Is Life There Is Hope Poem by Francis Duggan

The bells of St Peter's ring of joy and hope
Telling the Roman Catholic World that we have a Pope
And Joseph Ratzinger 'Benedict the sixteenth' came to the window overlooking St Peter's Square
And blessed the one hundred thousand cheering people assembled there.

Of German birth 'God's Rottweiller' is his nickname
Due to his conservative views yet for his views him one not ought to blame
Those who don't like his views from the Roman Catholic Church can walk away
With a leader one don't like why should one stay.

They can join me one who to a God does not pray
one who from all religions has turned away
Any dead person as of yet has not come back to tell
Of God's existence or of heaven and hell.

And though our destiny seems beyond our control
Any religious leader don't have the key to our soul
The way we live is our own choice it would seem
Though for billions an unseen God is good for their self esteem.

The smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney billowed white
And one hundred thousand of the faithful cheered in anticipation and delight
And when the bells had rung a Cardinal at the window announced we have a Pope
An aged man but where there is life there is hope.