Posted on 04/19/2005 4:30:05 PM PDT by metalmanx2j
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - From the shanty-covered hillsides of Tegucigalpa to the cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires and dusty villages in Africa, hopes had been high that the new pope would be someone intimately tied to the developing world and its challenges.
Disappointment was evident when a German, Joseph Ratzinger — now Pope Benedict XVI — was chosen instead.
"I would have liked someone different: younger, with new ideas and perhaps with darker skin like us," said Alfonso Mercado, an ice cream seller in Pereira, Colombia. Many in the city in Colombia's coffee-growing region hoped Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who preached in Pereira for 22 years, would be chosen.
Across the developing world, there was barely disguised disappointment — particularly among many Latin Americans, who make up roughly half the world's Catholics — that one of their own was not elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
"It should have been a Latino," said Gloria Vazquez, a 50-year-old housewife in Tegucigalpa. Yet she answered the call of the bells to a Mass in honor of the new pope at the Honduran capital's little cathedral.
"What are we going to do?" she asked. "We're Catholics."
The chimes sent waves of pigeons wheeling above the church, where dozens of the faithful had been listening to a radio broadcast of the papal announcement that echoed off the stained, peeling walls — a testimony to the poverty of this part of the Catholic world.
Julio Lancellotti, a priest who works with homeless and abandoned children in Sao Paulo, Brazil, frowned when he heard the papal announcement.
"We accept the pope who has been chosen," he said. "I accept in silence. We priests can have no opinion."
Many believed a pope from the developing world would be more focused on its problems, including poverty and the expansion of evangelical religions.
"Ratzinger's presence is a disaster for Latin America," snapped Bernardo Barranco, a Mexican sociologist and expert on religion, during a telephone interview from Rome.
"He took it upon himself to liquidate liberation theology. He didn't understand Latin America," said Barranco, referring to the blend of the Gospel with radical politics that rose in this region.
In Africa, the Vatican's announcement dashed hopes for those who were pulling for Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria.
In Onitsha, the city in southeastern Nigeria where Arinze once was bishop, people gathered in restaurants and shops — wherever they could find a television — to watch the announcement.
"The real Catholics of the world now are in Africa and Latin America, and it would have strengthened the church to have a pope from one of those places," said Okwudili Otti, a 45-year-old businessman.
Mary Ekpe, a 30-year-old Nigerian banker, said she never really expected an African pope to be elected.
"I know Europeans and Americans are not ready for that yet," Ekpe said. "But I thought they would've elected somebody from Latin America."
But she added: "I see something positive in the fact that they chose a German instead of an Italian. It shows at least the church is not returning to the tradition of having only Italian popes."
Matthew Hassan Kukah, a prominent Nigerian priest in the capital Abuja, said the faithful must not be disappointed.
"This is not the finals of the World Cup," Kukah said. "The sentiments are understandable, but this is the Catholic Church. We give thanks to God."
Colombian Bishop Jaime Prieto acknowledged that "we all had secret hopes that the next pope would be one of us." But he said Ratzinger's choice signals continued Vatican support for efforts to bring peace to Colombia, bloodied by a guerrilla war in which dozens of priests have been killed.
Monsignor Alejandro Goic, president of the Chilean Bishops Conference, defended the new pope, saying he "has a profound knowledge of Latin America" and speaks Spanish.
Marlyn Caceres, a 26-year-old selling candles, wooden crosses and rosaries outside La Candelaria Church in Caracas, Venezuela, said she remained hopeful Ratzinger will be a good pope.
"They say the man is humble. I hope he will be like the pope who died," said Caceres. "May it be as God wishes."
Opposing the war in Iraq for religious reasons is very differnt than the motivations of the fascists of Code Pink and the rest. If Ratzinger was such a friend of Islam why would he oppose Turkey being admitted to the EU?
Sorry - I am not in the loop. Maybe I should know "expectations"?
What were you expecting?
Somebody other than Ratzinger.
"Is that a racist statement, or would it only have been so if a German had been quoted complaining about a hispanic pope and "darker" had been replaced by "lighter"?"
Of course it's not racist, dark people are incapable of being racists. And if they are, it's well deserved. Didn't you go to publik schul?
I am not familiar enough with the Balkans to give a commentary. There is the 'just war' theory so I don't think a Pope has to oppose every war. Arinze was my first choice but a lot of people are thrilled with Ratzinger. I'm happy because the libs are apopleptic.
I am disappointed so far. I was hoping for a Latin American pope. But if Pope Clement (got to get used to calling him that) cleans up the sex scandals in the US churches I will beg forgivness for my doubt.
Somebody younger. I don't get electing a man who is already older than the lifespan of the average male.
Why do you want to get used to calling him Pope Clement, when Benedict is the name he selected?
Except for a few summer school classes, I went to private schools for all 19 years. I think I missed some of the required indoctrination.
enjoy your evening
That jumped out at me too. Another blast of flatus from the fraternity of secular leftwing hate merchants.
Benedict XVI is the oldest pope at his election since Clement XII in 1730 (who was three months older)...Clement XII's reign lasted for 9 years and almost 7 months. That timespan from now would take us to late 2015.
Do you want artifical contraception allowed? That is a yes/no.
Women priests? Yes/no.
Arinze can be elevated under BXVI to a position of more responsibility and then work on his language skills and gain more experience. Expect Arinze (IMHO) to be moved around some to gain experience, and especially be point-man on confronting Islam in Africa.
If he were younger, I don't think the Cardinals would have elected him. And he's not been a "pastor" in a diocese for 24 years. Ratzinger's mostly a theology professor.
No and no.
I hope I'm surprised by Ratzinger. But he has a huge act to follow, and he's starting it in the twilight of his life.
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