Pope Benedict XVI
Just in--a new pope has been elected. He's Benedict XVI (formerly Cardinal Ratzinger from Germany), considered a hard-line conservative.
I think it's interesting, in light of my previous post about cardinals over 80 not being allowed to vote for pope, that the new pope is 78 years old. So we came very close to that speculative scenario in which the new pope would be considered too old be part of the selection process, but not too old to serve as pope.
Other biographical facts about this pope that caught my eye, from the Wikipedia article I linked to: he deserted from the German army during WWII (a move punishable by death), and was briefly held by the Americans as a prisoner of war. Also, he was a university professor for a while, but "was confirmed in his traditionalist views by the liberal atmosphere of Tübingen and the Marxist leanings of the student movement of the 1960s." Hmmm.
It seems that the cardinals aren't interested in any change right now from the conservative doctrines of John Paul II (although I'm not a Catholic, I'd hoped for someone less conservative). But, by choosing an older man, they also don't seem to want to lock this up for a long time.
I wish him well in dealing with the problems within the church and the world, and in following in the large footsteps of the charismatic John Paul II.
posted by neo-neocon @ 12:46 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Funny how the media leave out the bit about his desertion from the Germany army and concentrate on his Hitler Youth membership (mandatory at the time)instead.
The attack machine is in full tilt boogie; they must score one for "their" side!
I didn't think they'd do it. We certainly live in interesting times.
By the way, neo-neo, snap.
Except that I was lifelong Marxist, who was also mugged by reality.
Benedict XVI will be a good pope, but he will not compromize his principles and play to the crowd.
As an Orthodox Christian, I think he is exactly who is needed right now at this point. It's very rare that one finds a public figure who stands by his principles, even if it isn't popular. We need more, not less.
From what I've been checking out, many Orthodox Christians admire him because of his principles. We tend to be quite conservative and on the watch against dramatic changes, since the effect can be spiritually harmful.
Perhaps there will be true, deliberate dialogue where ideas and positions are carefully examined, not just papered over.
Patca:
Funny, I read about his desertion and 'unenthusiastic' membership in the Hitler Youth in the same article, same paragraph. Maybe you should reconsider your choice of reading and viewing material...Or did you make this up?
The attack machine - blame the media for everything.
Benedict will be an interesting pope, but I think the main appeal will be to Catholics rather than to the wider world. He's for pulling in the borders, marking the lines very clearly.
NPR will definitely not 'get' him; don't know about the rest of the MSM.
His vision for the church is that it must be for itself, that Europe is a lost cause and that the disease of relativism is hollowing out the core of Western civilization.
Nonetheless his church will remain One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic...in that order, that ancient order. And no doubt it will be around to pick up the fragments and begin again, as it has done before.
If you read about Benedict XV, who served in just this way in WWI, you'll get a good idea of what he's going to be about.
He's probably got anywhere from seven to ten years. I think B.XV had about eight years. Long enough to make the Powers That Be despise him...
Anyway, don't you think it's interesting that they have someone from WWII?-- that generation is so over, over here.
A Hiaku Dedicated to Platican
Amazing changes brought winds of time
King-clown; thorny crown-golden tiara; stable-Palatican; love-abject hate.
Sacre Bleu! Papa Smurf est shabbes goy.
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