Posted on 04/19/2005 10:04:34 AM PDT by protest1
Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany Is New Pope
Europe - AP
By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a hard-line guardian of conservative doctrine, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI and called himself "a simple, humble worker."
Ratzinger, the first German pope since the 11th century, emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where he waved to a wildly cheering crowd of tens of thousands and gave his first blessing as pope. Other cardinals clad in their crimson robes came out on other balconies to watch him.
"Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me — a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord," he said. "I entrust myself to your prayers," the pope said.
The crowd responded by chanting "Benedict! Benedict!"
Ratzinger served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. He turned 78 on Saturday.
The new pope had gone into the conclave with the most buzz among two dozen leading candidates. He had impressed many faithful with his stirring homily at the funeral of John Paul II, who died April 2 at age 84.
That was a deal that Hitler made with the church, if I'm informed correctly.
More correctly, that was a deal Hitler made with all the othr churches, EXCEPT the Catholic one. Pius wouldn't agree to having the state involved in the church which is why he had made a trease with Hitler. He effectively kept the Nazi's out of the church that way, fooling Hitler. That's why Hitler was P.O'ed with the catholics and raized and pilfered thousands of Churches and threw over 800 priests to die in labor camps.
You ask: "Will there really be a schism?". Your joking, right? The schism started about 600 years ago with the reformation and continues apace. Turn on your TV any Sunday to see lots and lots of schism'd congregations. In the USA it doesn't really look like s schism. People just leave on their own and join more liberal churches, which are all around. No parishes can go due to the structure of the church in the USA which is controlled by arch-bishops, not individual congregations.
Why Benedict XVI? Anyone have the skinny on Ben's 1 - 15?
Also why is he the "glory of the olive"?
"As a nonCatholic, I honestly don't care who leads the Catholic Church., liberal or conservative, either or, all they are is a figurehead for that church...la"
Please forgive me-but you are a bit wrong. Fine, if you are not a Catholic feel whatever you want to feel about the Church or the Pope. But THERE IS no denying that the leader of the Catholic Church has a HUGE amount of influence in the geo-political realm and the direction our country heads in morally. Pope John Paul II, along with Reagan and Thatcher effectively brought down Communism. Many more examples abound!
Catholics are the largest Christian group in the country and the world. The Pope more than any other sets the tone for many issues. If the Church went liberal the domino effect would effect this country.
You statement is one not backed up by logic and reason. Hey I AM catholic and I know leaders like Billy Grahm and others had huge positive influence on us all!
True, but Popes have a very big stage on which they make their views known. For instance it will be interesting to see how many FReepers agree with his stance on Iraq and the UN as it relates to the WOT.
No you are not the only one! I am a protestant and do not agree with the teachings of the Roman Catholic church or the claims of the Pope. I just happened to be the first to post this important news on FR.
Benedict was a humble, under-rated Pope who preached peace. At least that's what they were saying on the telecast a while ago.
And I don't agree with protestants and how they preach, ignoring the gospels, favor abortion, etc.
In case you don't know, the comment which sparked your comment is not the position of catholic church, which is the church of St. Peter, the church of all christianity on earth.
Relax. All Christians are called to be Christ on Earth.
"But THERE IS no denying that the leader of the Catholic Church has a HUGE amount of influence in the geo-political realm and the direction our country heads in morally."
Yeah, this last Pope had a lot to do with us not attacking Iraq twice...oh wait...never mind...la
He actually made some comments within the last two years or so that perhaps European Catholicism was so weak compared to the US because of the European church's dependency on government. I might try to track down the source. EWTN.com's news archives probably has it.(at least, I *think* they have archives.)
Yes.
LOL!
I think that from many points of view the American model is the better one. Europe has remained bogged down. People who did not want to belong to a state church, went to the United States and intentionally constituted a state that does not impose a church and which simply is not perceived as religiously neutral, but as a space within which religions can move and also enjoy organizational freedom without being simply relegated to the private sphere… One can undoubtedly learn from the United States [and this] process by which the state makes room for religion, which is not imposed, but which, thanks to the state, lives, exists and has a public creative force. It certainly is a positive way.-November 25, 2004, report on Zenit.com, via hard-line traditionalist who doesn't like him, John Rao
Am I the only one with a problem with this philosophy?
No. Catholics shouldn't believe this. The Church doesn't teach this.
See the bible verses in my tagline. We see the office of vice-regent (vice-king) of the House of David in Isaiah 22 being passed from Shebna to Eliakim. The holder of the office wore a key around his neck, symbolizing his authority in the king's absence. In Rev 3:7 we see that Jesus is the eternal King of the eternal House of David. In Matthew 16 we see Jesus establish His Church and give the keys of the eternal House of David (Christ's Church) to Peter.
The Pope is the representative of Christ on earth as the earthly leader of the Church. Christ is the head of the Church, of course.
Am I the only one with a problem with this philosophy?
Dude, he didn't mean any offense. That's the Pope's job: vicar of Christ. A priest also acts for Christ, in the person of Christ when he confers a sacrament like confession or baptism.
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