<p>What does anyone think of the new Pope Benedict XVI (Ratzinger)?</p>
<p>Any opinions on what this will mean for Catholics and religion in general?</p>
<p>Do you mean the fact that he is German?? It has been a thousand years since there was a German Pope. I am not surprised, he was a strong contender, and seems like a very warm charismatic man. He has been in the Vatican for 24 years, and will be warmly welcomed. I think it is wonderful that he was elected. It’s interesting that he chose the name Benedict XVl, as the previous Pope by that name was known to be a moderate, so perhaps he is trying to quell some doubts? He has a very tough act to follow, that’s for sure. </p>
<p>This is going to be analyzed to death in the news over the coming weeks, so I not even going to attempt it. </p>
<p>My H happens to be flying to Germany this evening, so that’s pretty exciting. It will be Party Time.</p>
<p>I was surprised that there was a decision so fast
I am surprised and disappointed that he is another white european.
Not only white and european but reputedly rigidly conservative.</p>
<p>Oh well, he will die within the next 10 years. I was really cheering for the African dude.</p>
<p>Lots of people consider Cdl. Arinze, who was long considered papabile and who is neither white nor European, to be “rigidly conservative” as well because he’s made it clear that he upholds the doctrines of the Church.</p>
<p>Since the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church is unchanging, it’s amusing when people describe those who uphold that doctrine as rigid or conservative. What else could they do and still be truly Catholic?</p>
<p>Cardinal Ratzinger loved by conservatives, mistrusted by liberals </p>
<p>By Melissa Eddy / Associated Press </p>
<p>TRAUNSTEIN, Germany – Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has alienated some Roman Catholics in Germany with his zeal enforcing church orthodoxy. But in the conservative Alpine foothills of Bavaria where he grew up, he remains a favorite son who many think would make a good pope. </p>
<p>Ratzinger, a rigorously conservative guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy who turns 78 on Saturday, is considered a leading candidate to succeed Pope John Paul II at the conclave that begins Monday. </p>
<p>“Only someone who knows tradition is able to shape the future,” said the Rev. Thomas Frauenlob, who heads the seminary in Traunstein where Ratzinger studied and regularly returns to visit. </p>
<p>But opinion about him remains deeply divided in Germany, a sharp contrast to John Paul, who was revered in his native Poland. A recent poll for Der Spiegel news weekly showed Germans opposed to him becoming pope outnumbered supporters 36 percent to 29 percent. Another 17 percent didn’t care. The poll of 1,000 people, taken April 5-7, gave no margin of error. </p>
<p>Many blame Ratzinger for decrees from Rome barring Catholic priests from counseling pregnant teens on their options and blocking German Catholics from sharing communion with their Lutheran brethren at a joint gathering in 2003. </p>
<p>Ratzinger has clashed with prominent theologians at home, most notably the liberal Hans Kueng, who helped him get a teaching post at the University of Tuebingen in the 1960s. The cardinal later publicly criticized Kueng, whose license to teach theology was revoked by the Vatican in 1979. </p>
<p>He has also sparred openly in articles with fellow German Cardinal Walter Kasper, a moderate who has urged less centralized church governance and is considered a dark horse papal candidate. </p>
<p>“He has hurt many people and far overstepped his boundaries in Germany,” said Christian Wiesner, spokesman for the pro-reform Wir Sind Kirche, or We Are Church movement. </p>
<p>Ratzinger himself, in his autobiography, sensed he was out of step with his fellow Germans as early as the 1960s, when he was a young assistant at the Second Vatican Council in Rome. </p>
<p>Returning to Germany between sessions, “I found the mood in the church and among theologians to be agitated,” he wrote. “More and more there was the impression that nothing stood fast in the church, that everything was up for revision.” </p>
<p>Ratzinger left Tuebingen during student protests in the late 1960s and moved to the more conservative University of Regensburg in his home state of Bavaria. </p>
<p>Catholics and Protestants each account for about 34 percent of the German population, but Bavaria is one of the more heavily Catholic areas. </p>
<p>“What Wadowice was for John Paul, Bavaria is for Ratzinger,” said Frauenlob, referring to John Paul II’s hometown in southern Poland. “He has very deep roots here, it’s his home.” </p>
<p>The cardinal was born in Marktl Am Inn, but his father, a policeman, moved frequently and the family left when he was 2. </p>
<p>He and his older brother, Georg – former director of the renowned Regensburger Domspatzen boys choir – still return annually to the peaceful halls of St. Michael’s Seminary to stay in the elegant, but sparsely furnished bishop’s apartment next to the church. </p>
<p>An accomplished pianist who loves Mozart, Ratzinger enjoys playing the grand piano in the seminary’s main hall, and walking through downtown Traunstein greeting people, Frauenlob said. </p>
<p>Traunstein was also where Ratzinger went through the harrowing years of Nazi rule and World War II. In 1943, he was drafted as an assistant to a Nazi anti-aircraft unit and sent to Munich. A year later he was released, only to be sent to the Austrian-Hungarian border to construct tank barriers. </p>
<p>He deserted the Germany army in May 1945 and returned to Traunstein – a risky move, since deserters were shot on the spot if caught, or publicly hanged as examples to others. </p>
<p>When he arrived home, U.S. soldiers took him prisoner and held him in a POW camp for several weeks. Upon his release, he re-entered the seminary. </p>
<p>Ratzinger was ordained, along with his brother, in 1951. He then spent several years teaching theology. In 1977, he was appointed bishop of Munich and elevated to cardinal three months later. </p>
<p>Pope John Paul II named him leader of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981, where he was responsible for enforcing Church orthodoxy. Ratzinger speaks several languages, among them Italian and English, as well as his native language German. </p>
<p>Frauenlob calls him a subtle thinker with a deep understanding of Catholic tradition and a personal touch he’s not often given credit for. </p>
<p>He cites the example of the seminary’s 2003 confirmation service where no bishop was available. Ratzinger swiftly agreed to come, confirming the 14 boys, then taking time to speak personally to each one after the ceremony. </p>
<p>“I find it hurtful to see him described as a hard-liner,” Frauenlob said. “People are too quick to say that, it’s not an accurate reflection of his personality.” </p>
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<p>Lhasa, how refreshing to hear someone tell it like it is…I’ve heard that now people who follow the dictates of the Pope are called “Orthodox Catholic”…As opposed to what? A la Carte, I guess…What do I know, I’m just an Episcoplian married to a lapsed Catholic.</p>
<p>Lhasa, the Catholic Church has not been static and unchanging. Indeed, it has evolved in a number of dimensions over the centuries; most recently with the Vatican I and Vatican II councils.</p>
<p>I rather fear that Benedict XVI is a man for his times…the 15th century. I expect a subdued mood in our parish, more like resignation, not sounds of joy.</p>
<p>I agree with The Dad, so much progress down the drain.</p>
<p>Our Priest admitted that he’s been visiting <a href=“http://www.electapope.com%5B/url%5D”>www.electapope.com</a> (good laugh from the congregation on this one)and bantering with some of the posters, in addition to submitting his “vote” for Pope. He didn’t say exactly who he was rooting for. But, it was clear that this wasn’t one of his choices. </p>
<p>Ok, who was the Papal Candidate who was shuffling the “bad” preists from parish to parish…covering up the wrongdoings? I hope it wasn’t this one.</p>
<p>EDIT: The link isn’t working. You can google elect a pope, find the listing for the website, select the cached version and enter that way. They’re probably updating the site now.</p>
<p>This is pretty much what I expected. I think there is a real desire among the cardinals to send the message that church doctrine is not negotiable and from the little I’ve heard about Ratzinger, that’s exactly the type of Pope they elected. </p>
<p>It sure seemed weird not to see Pope John Paul up on that balcony. What I did notice is that Pope Benedict (for some reason that name sends a bit of a chill down my spine) didn’t smile very much and he never once waved to the crowd, just did that hands clapsed in the air blessing thing. </p>
<p>One thing that was speculated on (CNN?) was that the choice of his name, Benedict, signals that he doesn’t plan on being around for long. Apparently the last Benedict died after only 2 or 3 years in office. I don’t know if anyone has ever heard of St. Malachai who supposedly wrote down the names of all of the popes in the future as told to him in a heavenly vision. He has gotten all of the names right so far, and predicted that after Pope John Paul there would be only two popes until a major upheaval (and some say, end) of the Catholic church. So, that was on my mind a bit while I watched today’s events.</p>
<p>Momsdream, not to wade into deep theological waters, but in the Catholic theology, there’s the notion of “deposit of faith.” In lay terms, it means that sometimes the hierarchy gets it wrong and the people over time provide the correction. The Church is like a lot of other institutions…sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong. It only took three centuries for it to admit it about Galileo. I don’t think the spirit of Vatican II can be erased but, unfortunately, I think the tendency of many American Catholics who regard Rome as distant, out of touch, and irrelevant will only increase. See recent polls about divorce, birth control, married priests, women priests.</p>
<p>I did like J2P2’s apology to the Jews for the old “blame the Crucifixion on the Jews” riff that informed Church thinking for centuries. I understand that the Jews, in return, are going to apologize for the movie “Yentl.”</p>
<p>[smacks forehead] Oy!</p>
<p>Our priest has openly stated that he supports marriage for priests. Why? Because he thinks preists need someone to tell them when they’re wrong! He’s was joking about that part…sort of.</p>
<p>JPII surprised and disappointed a lot of people for being doctrinally conservative on most issues. Now many of those same people are suprised and disappointed with the election of another conservative pope.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t have a dog in that fight, but I’m always amused when people are dismayed to discover that the Pope turned out to be Catholic.</p>
<p>coureur,</p>
<p>I understand that bears defecate in the woods too!</p>
<p>One question I always have for Catholics who suggest that priests should be married - How exactly would you work that? I’m not trying to start an argument, but I really wonder if those who advocate married priests have thought it out…how would it be implemented? If you say like Protestants do, well, the Catholic Church is not Protestant.</p>
<p>So how would married priests work? Would several families live in the rectory together? When priests are transferred from diocese to diocese, the whole family picks up and moves? I mean, priests do take vows of obedience. How about when they are tapped for further study in Rome…Mom, Dad and kids all move to Rome? </p>
<p>P.S. Carolyn: i did think Pope Benedict XVI looked very solemn too,(almost like a weight on his shoulders) but he did wave to the crowds from the balcony as he was leaving to go inside.</p>
<p>I think many of us were hoping that the new pope would be more progressive, especially concerning the problem of pedophile priests and the shortage of young people chosing the vocation. However, I don’t see that changing with Benedict XVI.</p>
<p>However, I also think that what draws humans to organized religion is the knowledge that with the death of leaders, the church goes on. And, although we don’t always agree with doctrine, it remains stable in an unstable world. I agree with TheDad, the people of the Catholic church will eventually provide the correction, but when the heads of the church are charged with maintaining the status quo, change will come slowly.</p>
<p>I for one will continue attending mass and sending my youngest to religious ed classes, just as I have continued with my life after the change of administrations.</p>
<p>Irishbird, Pope Benedict is sick (he has a horriibl cold that has almost taken his voice away). It’s been in the news. Some were wondering if it was a “sign”.</p>
<p>One of the big issues I have is with the embrace of other faiths. Pope JP was good for it…and made me feel really great when he made his pennance to the Jews in 2000. From what I’ve read, this Pope won’t be so inclined.</p>
<p>Irishbird, the concerns that you raise about priests marrying are logistical, not doctrinal. Hence, the fact that Catholics are not the same as Protestants does not seem to apply. The issues that you raised are found in Protestant churches as well and they seem to manage.</p>
<p>Carolyn, that St. Malachai thing was very interesting. Shades of the 1970s and Hal Lindsey (Late, Great Planet Earth). Back to Malachai’s pope names, was the John Paul you mentioned I or II? If I, then the upheaval’s gonna happen within the next 10 years.</p>
<p>Any more info on this?</p>