There’s an up side. Maybe two.
He’s old. I figured they’d pick someone old, and they did, which means they want a transition pope.
He didn’t choose JPIII. Maybe being Pope will allow him to break with JPII’s thinking even though, yeah, I know he was an advisor to JPII and more conservative and sure, I’m talking out my ass. But a girl can dream!
I was hoping that too, not only because it would have been interesting, but also because an African would presumably be better informed about the AIDS crisis. When I saw a white face on the balcony, my immediate reaction was “Awwwwwwwww…!”
And my secondary reaction was “Not the Nazi!”
But as another poster noted, that was long ago and he was a kid.
Now the question is, is it good or bad for transition that JPII found him so indispensable?
If he had wanted to do that, he could have picked “Pius”. The Piuses did crack down on the whole modernist thing (and in fact, one did declare them heretics and drove them out of the church.) The fact that he chose Benedict might be a sign that he doesn’t want to do that. And, his theology isn’t really much more conservative than the last pope’s was. But, he was in the hatchet man position.
the word ‘transition’ in Transition Pope has a good ring to it. Not the best of choices, imho.
Yea, Pope Idol sounds good.
RJ: I dunno dawg, that homily sounded a little pitchy to me.
Paula: I love you man! See you in the finals!
Simon: That was awful. You now what you remind me of…
Hell, I’m a Jew and I’ll give the guy a pass on the ‘Hitler Youth’ thing. It was a crazy time and he was young. And from what I’ve heard he’s made efforts to make that good.
I give Pope Benedict at most 4-5 years before he keels over, and then we’ll get Arinze.
Yeah, you’re right.
Something else that has occurred to me. I have seen a historical era begin and end.
That “XVI” thing is going to confuse a lot of the kids…
(I mean Jonathan Chance.)
And 5que, I think kids know Roman numerals. How else would they know the order of the Friday the 13th sequels?
See, this is why I lost track of the Super Bowls a long, long time ago.
Not the literate ones. Of course, those of us who grew up reaidng Roman numerals in movie credits have an advantage . . .
Benedict XVI
So the Nazi fighter is replaced by the Nazi in one of the ironies of history. Let’s hope that he’s a better pope than anyone has predicted so far.
How do you pronounce that? Exvee? Zivy? Clive?
Whoops, didn’t see there was a second page.
And Benedict XV wasn’t the shortest reign of the 20th century(not counting JPI) John XXIII had only five years or so, 1959 to 1964 or so.
There’s like ten Germans in the Square with big flags, but they sure seem happy in their restrained way. 
I’ll be interested to see how the German press covers it.
Weird thing is that he was one of the three voters NOT appointed by JP II–he was made cardinal in '77.
I think the College thinks a pope from Old Europe (heh) will bring back people there to the Church; somehow I doubt it. But his conservatism will go over well in Latin America and Africa, maybe.
I think it’ll be a time of self-reflection for Catholics. The last Pope, God rest his soul, reached out to the world, and very successfully. Maybe it’s time to retrench and rethink the deeper issues, and you don’t get much deeper than Benedict, apparently. Quality over quantity of Catholics?
Maybe he should refer to himself as “B-16” kinda like J-Lo and B-Fleck.
Why didn’t CNN get Father Guido Sarducci to do the live commentary?
They “self-medicate” with Old Style beer
I will never hear the end of this.
A german pope.
And a german pointer won at Westminster this year.
There is a conspiracy going on.
At least with a German in office over there, you know punctuality will be strictly adhered too. Ja, baby.