Let's hope his model is his nomen-predecessor. Benedict XV pitched the "modernist" campaign of Pius X over the side. And, della Chiesa was definitely a moderate, sandwiched between two ultra-conservatives.
We must pray for the new Pope. He has an awesome responsibility.
Dear sinkspur,
What, no mea culpas??? ;-)
You DID say that our beloved new Holy Father would NOT be our beloved new Holy Father. ;-)
I don't know what Pope Benedict's intentions are with his name.
My sense is not that he's a moderate, in the sense of trying to get along with all parties, but rather that he's a moderate, in that he will guide the Church down the true center line of following the Master, and those who fall to the right or the left will have to adjust their course or be left behind.
As well, I've read that St. Benedict is the patron saint of Europe. I know that Pope Benedict is anxious to reclaim Europe for Christianity.
He has my prayers.
sitetest
I don't think Benedict XV was uppermost in Ratzinger's mind in choosing his name, though it may have played some role.
I would imagine his choice of name has far more to do with St. Benedict, patron of Europe, patron of the re-conversion of Europe. Ratzinger's greatest concern is the effort to obliterate Christianity from Europe, to deny it any standing whatsoever in the E.U. If that trend is not reversed, the day will come when the bishop of Rome will once more be crucified in the Vatican Hippodrome (figuratively or perhaps even something approaching literally).
Ratzinger has written extensively on this "culture wars" theme. He does so from a European vantage point, but with globalization, it is an issue for everyone, even in the Third World. The exact way these culture wars play out differs in Europe and the United States and Latin America and Africa, but the principles are the same and Ratzinger has thought about them long and hard.