Pope

[woodface]

We have a new pope and no one is surprised. Frakking Ratzinger ex-Hitler Jugend. He shall be known as Benedictus XVI and will possibly be worse than Johannes Paulus II. So much for hoping we'd get a pope that might actually move the church into the 21th century.

Comments

[ellory1.livejournal.com]

I thought they liked his age... 78. Figure he will be a transitional Pope.

[woodface]

The last time they did that it blew up in their faces and we got the most open minded pope ever who tried to change the church for the best.

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

Errrr... The last time they did that was JP1, wasn't it? Or was it a big surprise that he kicked it after a month? :: was a wee thing and is having trouble recalling the details ::

I'm just glad it isn't the guy who made the lameass "Don't read The Da Vinci Code" statement last month. It'd be very embarrassing for my uncle to have to puke in the middle of the meeting he's at in Rome atm. (He said in an email the other day he'd have to remember the guy's name so he could "just puke then and there." This would be the priest uncle with the D.Div. who teaches at a Catholic university in Detroit. *g* I love my family...)

[charis]

So much for hoping we'd get a pope that might actually move the church into the 21th century.

BC?

I shouldn't be so snarky about this, since I know very little about the guy or about the Catholic church, but my brain stopped at the Hitler Youth element.

[woodface]

*snickers* Oh feel free to be snarky, I love snark. He did apparently say he was in the Hitler Youth under force, which is quite possible as things weren't that simple during WWII.

[liminalliz.livejournal.com]

Yay! We get a pope who hates gays! omg!

[woodface]

Nothing new there, really.

[seadancer.livejournal.com]

Uh I'm Catholic. I really find this post offensive. Comparing a German Pope to Hitler?

I admit there are things wrong with the Church and no I'm not going to discuss it any further.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Er, I don't think there was any comparing of the new pope to Hitler - "Hitler Jugend" is the Hitler Youth, an organisation in which Pope Ratzinger was enrolled as a boy.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

...I should say, Pope Benedict XVI - I wasn't aware which name he'd taken when I wrote the above :-)

[lavidaessueno.livejournal.com]

I think you misread the post. It is a fact that Joseph Ratzinger was a member of Hitler Youth when he was young. It does not mean he was a supporter of Hitler or his policies - it was compulsory at that time in Nazi Germany. He was only a member for a short time before he was excused due to his seminary training.

[woodface]

Ah, didn't know they excused him (did know it was compulsory). Hrm, there was a strange relationship with the church during WWII.

[woodface]

My mom says I'm Catholic too *eyes her*

I'm not comparing the pope to Hitler, the responses above are right. Sorry if you find that offensive.

[seadancer.livejournal.com]

If that's the case then I apologise.

[woodface]

No worries.

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

Given that JP2 appointed almost all of the 115 voting Cardinals, it's hardly a surprise that someone who followed the same conservative theology was elected.

Also, the fact that he's older likely means that he will serve a much shorter Papacy than JP2.

[woodface]

Did I mention that I'm not surprised at all? Just disappointed.

And you wish. *eyes him* He doesn't look like he's about to keel over. We can hope but I'm sure I'm officially banned right now.

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

Well I don't see him keeling over just yet - my dad isn't that much younger, and I'm looking for him to live a while longer. I don't think he'll last anything like 25 years though. I think 10 might be a lot.

[lytarules.livejournal.com]

totally OT - someone on my flist is in need of someone to translate something from Dutch into English... You know anyone who might be willing to help? *hopeful puppy eyes*

And I remember John Paul the 1th. *is old now*

[mylo1012.livejournal.com]

I can give it a shot

[lytarules.livejournal.com]

Here's the url for either of you to visit:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/pellmelody/320731.html

Thanksies! *smoooooooches both of you*

[nandamai]

nd I remember John Paul the 1th. *is old now*

Me too! I remember watching the special reports on TV the day he died.

[woodface]

Well unless Petra already offered, I can help. Funny that ;oP

[lisayaeger.livejournal.com]

Not surprised either, but totally disappointed. He and Bush can take us all back in time a good 50 years.

*shakes head*

[woodface]

Oh, I'm sure Bush will love him. Apparently his love for JPII was pretty big too.