WE HAVE A POPE!!! (Cardinal Ratzinger-Pope Benedict XVI)

MSNBC

[Dave78]

I understand Ratzinger served in the Wehrmacht (German military) during World War II.

How ironic considering that JPII was Polish and helped defeat the Germans.

[Kleon]

The Order of St. Benedict

The new Pope is not from this order. The name Benedict has nothing to do with olives.

[TheBigB]

when folks show their butts, we get to chew on them!

I...say...nothing. :-)

[Captain Peter Blood]

Different times, the world has changed since the late 1950's and early 1960's and being Pope is more of man-killer job than it was and the responsibilities are enormous.

[JustPiper]

Well his age doesn't bode well for a short term papacy, I'm sure there is debate about whethre he is the 2nd to last or the last, we'll see if he goes beyond short term

[LilDarlin]

there are lots of us who are sittin' on the fence, tryin' to decide which way to go when it comes to God...and stuff like that only makes us want to go as FAR away from you and your like, as we can.

Remember: the world is round; the farther you run from me, the closer you get.

Personally, I could care less what direction you take. It's all up to you.

[Kryptonite]

I'd like to think Benedict was picked to reach out to the Benedictines, and to honor John Paul the Great as a peacemaker, from what I can gather so far....

[SolomoninSouthDakota]

"Ratzinger at best is a caretaker Pope and will not be able address the many concerns and problems the Church has at this point in time.

Don't underestimate him."

"All" the popes need to do is "hold the fort" till the return of the Lord. Pope Benedict will prove preeminently qualified. Set it in stone!!! Overjoyed!

[cyborg]

why welcome newbie of course you do know that he deserted the military right?

[Brit_Guy]

Well, I can see the spinmasters spinning it each and everyway....

"He was in the Hitler Youth"
"Yes, he served his country but he was a deserter"
"He is an anti semite - look at his statements on Judaism"
"He is despised in his own country - German catholics can't stand him"
"He is 78!"
etc. etc.

Personally, I cannot see why there was any need to invite any of this controvesy. I think they missed a real opportunity in not selecting Hummes. Such is life. The smoke is out. Bennedict is the man. Let's see what he does....

[MadIvan]

If we are lucky, I suggest it will be a 12 year papacy.

Regards, Ivan

[leprechaun9]

Has Al Bore petitioned the Court to challenge the election yet?

[amdgmary]

"Viva il Papa!"

[KevinDavis]

Former Hitler Youth and anti-aircraft gun operator by force

[Captain Peter Blood]

Wrong it's called Free Will which God gave to us.

[Ann Archy]

Could you please repeat that bio of Pope Benedict XVI on other Pope threads? Thanks. The MSM will have him running gas chambers and dring with Ivan the Terrible.

[onyx]

Me too.
I have a renewed faith in our Church.

I was hoping I could be ready to love our new Pope,
but with Cardinal Ratzinger's election, I already LOVE him.

[NYer]

The new Pope is pretty spry, and in, say, 10 years, there will be a new crop of great, younger Cardinals from all over the world

And they will be Ratzinger appointees!! Yes!!!

[AnAmericanMother]

Hey, darlin, Howlin's a Protestant (at least I think so.)

Catholics aren't any different from anyone else - you come in their living room acting like an idiot, they'll tell you to shape up or ship out.

On the other hand, polite and gracious Protestants like Howlin are always welcome. I used to be one myself (Protestant, that is.)

Just chill and try not to insult Catholics on our Great Day, 'kay?

[Howlin]

No, believe what you will but don't come onto a thread you know full well is being read primarily by Catholics and insult us. That is simply rude.

That's not even the real point; this is obviously a thread of celebration.

You have to wonder about a person who can't contain themselves by showing some sort of civility to other human beings.