Please have a little patience with this non catholic guy with no time to read this whole thread. A few questions:
1. Has there ever been a German Pope? Seems if there has been it was a long time ago. I like the idea of trying to internationalize the church.
2. From what I've read, Ratzinger seems like a good guy, but why so old? The pressure of this job will readily kill even younger men. He was almost too old to even vote. Please don't tell me it is God's choice - I know that's the pat answer, but I don't buy it. Personally I think most of the cardinals have good qualifications, but anyone involved in hierarchies plays politics. It's part of the game and these guys even though men of God are still men.
3. What changes from JP II can be expected?
4. Could he have been chosen simply to fill a few years so the position can go back to an Italian (the fact that there were so many Italian popes in a row strongly suggests the choice is more than a little political)?
5. Will he fill cardinal vacancies with the same type of men that JP II did?
6. What is the state of the American cardinal delegation? Can we expect changes there (are any of them quite old)? I would like to see more conservative hierarchy here, but I understand that the church is in dire position concerning the priesthood here as well as with sisters. Anybody have an idea how the church can remain conservative yet be more attractive for younger people?
It's important for me that the church come to grips with its scandals (I think they did a bad job with the molestation problems - perhaps JP II was too ill or didn't want to get his hands dirty), but it also important that it maintains its values and be a force of constancy.
I will try to keep up for a while, but like so many I have work to do :^(
"Please have a little patience with this non catholic guy with no time to read this whole thread."
Don't post until you've read every other post.
Just kidding! Nobody would be posting anything right now, huh?
"1. Has there ever been a German Pope? Seems if there has been it was a long time ago. I like the idea of trying to internationalize the church."
I dunno.
"2. From what I've read, Ratzinger seems like a good guy, but why so old?"
Time tested. Takes a long time for most to reach top positions.
"3. What changes from JP II can be expected?"
Tougher line on homosexuals, and intense frictions with the Jewish community.
"4. Could he have been chosen simply to fill a few years so the position can go back to an Italian (the fact that there were so many Italian popes in a row strongly suggests the choice is more than a little political)?"
I doubt it.
"5. Will he fill cardinal vacancies with the same type of men that JP II did?"
Tougher, if anything.
"6. What is the state of the American cardinal delegation? Can we expect changes there (are any of them quite old)? I would like to see more conservative hierarchy here, but I understand that the church is in dire position concerning the priesthood here as well as with sisters. Anybody have an idea how the church can remain conservative yet be more attractive for younger people?"
I'm just shooting at the hip, note. But being a former Catholic, I think the US Catholic clergy is going to hate his guts.
"It's important for me that the church come to grips with its scandals (I think they did a bad job with the molestation problems - perhaps JP II was too ill or didn't want to get his hands dirty), but it also important that it maintains its values and be a force of constancy."
I think you'll like him.