Sunday 17 March 2013

Habemus Papam

Whilst I am not a Roman Catholic, one thing I very much like about the Catholic Church is their continued use of Latin.  When the Cardinals succeeded in electing a new Pope on Thursday, the traditional Latin  announcement was made to the Faithful from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica: 

"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum... habemus papam!" 

In English translation it is: "I announce to you a great joy... we have a pope!"  Containing just a verb in the first person plural present indicative active and a first declension noun in the accusative singular, the statement habemus papam is well within the understanding of a Latin beginner.

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