[american colleen]

I read the NYPost article and it seems that the paper is asserting B16 'campagned' but provides no evidence beyond the statement of the paper itself.

For anyone familiar with the Vatican, even remotely (someone like me), I have known who Ratzinger was for years. He has always written books and newspaper articles & given media interviews. He has always been one of the most accessible personalities in the Vatican. Very open and approachable.

Did he want to be pope? Well, reading this thread and knowing that he asked to retire three times in the past 15 or so years, I'd say no.

[ken5050]

I though it was an interesting article, and worthy of the link..my take, FWIW, just as every senator, afetr their maiden speech in the Senate, dreams of becoming President...every Cardinal, once they arrive in Rome, dreams of possibly becoming Pontiff..

The College of Cardinals is a highly political institution.always has been, always will be..and Pope JP II was a master politican...I believe he favored Ratzinger, and let his wished becoem known in the last years of his Papacy..