Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI

[travis2]

.

[NeoConIV]

Yeah Baby!!!

[polandprzem]

For how long?

[travis2]

One never knows. Or what he will do. After all, Pope John XXIII was supposed to be a "caretaker" Pope, and he started Vatican II...

[desflood]

Well, here's to hoping Benedict XVI does even half the job his predecessor did.

[Hook Dem]

This was a very important event and I'm glad we have a new Pope. Can we get back to the local news at noon now and save all of this for commentary later? Enough already!

[JoeChalupa]

God Bless.

[polandprzem]

Some info saying that he was in Hitlerjugent.
I just don't know yet on a 100%.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

attention, attention, attention all conservatives:

the pope is white
there is no need to fear
i repeat, the pope is white
you may continue your day's work in peace

[Cant_Be_Faded]

for all you eschatologists

http://www.newswithviews.com/Ryter/jon85.htm

my teacher at NA, mrs shcoener, always told us that the pope after john paul the II would be the 'anti-pope' and would cause the downfall of catholicism shortly before the end of the world....interesting...

but then again, she also told us that she witnessed a ufo landin

(not being stupid here, this teacher of mine 7th to 8th grade really did say these things)

[jalbre6]

I can see the ceremony now...



Your Delta Tau Chi name is Benedict XVI!

[MannyIsGod]

Hey, I'm curious here...

What is the reason behind the name change?

Even though I grew up in the Catholic church, I don't know much about the papal transitioning and what I do know, I learned from Angels and Demons.

[travis2]

It's just a tradition. There's no rule that says the new pope must change his name.

It became a tradition in 996.

The first time it happened was in the 6th century, when the priest who had been elected pope decided his given name was not appropriate for the papacy...his given name was Mercury.

[MannyIsGod]

Alrighty. Thanks, Travis.

[jalbre6]

It's just a tradition. There's no rule that says the new pope must change his name.

It became a tradition in 996.

The first time it happened was in the 6th century, when the priest who had been elected pope decided his given name was not appropriate for the papacy...his given name was Mercury.

Though in hindsight, "Pope Mercury" would have made a great 6th century action hero name.

[The Ressurrected One]

.nevermind.

I like the choice...seems like an upstanding Catholic who will adhere to doctrine and carry on with his well-loved predecessor's agenda.

Not being Catholic, I really had no preference...and, in fact, was kind of hoping for the African guy. He seemed pretty upstanding as well. Anybody but that Desmond Tutu idiot.

[The Ressurrected One]

i saw desmond tutu make a speech once
he was pretty compelling, not as good as i thought he'd be though

Tutu is an idiot...

[NeoConIV]

If the liberal wing were to take the reins of the Catholic Church...God help us all.

I hope that Ratzinger helps reinvigorate the faith in Germany. Sorely needed.

[Ocotillo]

Isn't Tutu Episcopalian (sp)?

[exstatic]

If the liberal wing were to take the reins of the Catholic Church...God help us all.

Look for the US Catholic church to continue their slide under this follow up conservative Pope; in attendance, hing, and in ordinations. JP II's refusal to aggressively clean house on pedophiles, and come correct for past mistakes cost the Vatican dearly where it hurts: in the coffers.

[exstatic]

Isn't Tutu Episcopalian (sp)?

I believe so.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

this site is better
http://www.jpdawson.com/lastpope.html
makes it really creepy that he chose 'Benedict' as his name

oh, and this new Pope was in Hitler Youth, when he was 14--participation was compulsory....

the site compares this guy's prophecies to nostradamus...thats kinda funny.

[NeoConIV]

Look for the US Catholic church to continue their slide under this follow up conservative Pope; in attendance, hing, and in ordinations. JP II's refusal to aggressively clean house on pedophiles, and come correct for past mistakes cost the Vatican dearly where it hurts: in the coffers.

You wanna see a slide, wait till a lliberal pope gives the blessing on female priests, contraception, and gay marriage.

[spurster]

I agree that female priests would cause the end of the world or something worse.

[exstatic]

You wanna see a slide, wait till a lliberal pope gives the blessing on female priests, contraception, and gay marriage.

How about one standard for male priests? You do know that Anglicans who converted were allowed to remain both married and priests, and the Earth hasn't stopped rotating yet? Imagine that. Imagine being a Catholic priest at the time, wanting a family, and seeing others allowed to have one. Imagine the priest shortage over in about 5 years. Nevermind. We're talking the Vatican here.

I also see nothing wrong with female priests. One of the best Christmas Eve services I've ever attended was last year at my sister's Lutheran church with a female minister. Another outlet to end the priest shortage, but nope...nevermind.

The stand on contraception is plain stupid when taken in the context of both the Third World, and their population problems, and the stand on abortion. I would venture to say that most Catholic girls who "get in trouble" wouldn't if they had used contraceptives. Then again, I guess that's just another case where women are supposed to shut up, and accept their place in the church heirarchy, which is plainly at the bottom and silent.

I would venture to say that gay marriage within the church has very little support, mostly because gays who are interested in living a full, undiscriminated life left the church long ago. As with priests, telling someone to keep it zipped is not really a viable or humane option. You can't just "turn off" someone's sex drive. It's there and the motor is running.