The first ever German Pope.

Ratzinger-Benedict XVI[/URL]

Never, ever thought that would happen. Not with the scars of WW2 still being remembered. Granted, it's about the individual, but it is still politics. Don't misunderstand me though. I think it's great! The Catholic church needs diversity in leadership. For a long, long, long time the Pope was always Italian.


ps - Yes, I am a lapsed Catholic. Irish Catholic at that!

[ April 19, 2005, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: PorkChopExpress ]

Was watching this on television; the announcement of the new pope.

What thoughts if any do you have on the new pope?

I, too, was startled that a German was elected, given the fairly recent publicity regarding the Vatican and the holocaust. Technically it isn't a politcal appointment but John Paul II was as much a world leader as any president, king, queen, or prime minister. Electing Ratzinger doesn't seem like a smart move politically, conversely that makes me think that the Cardinal's Conclave did indeed think that he's the right man for the job regardless of politics. Of Ratzinger himself, I know almost nothing, though I'm sure that we will be hearing his entire life history very shortly. He does seem to be very conservative to me. Time will tell how Benedict XVI will lead.

[ April 19, 2005, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Renee ]

I totally agree Renee. As far as politics, I was refering to wrangling inside of the Catholic Church. However, you can be sure that they are concerned about how they are perceived by the rest of the world. I am starting to worry though. It seems that Benedict XVI has a history of being EXTREMELY conservative.