New Pope

**PJ's Mom** · 04-19-2005, 11:30 AM

According to CNN, a new Pope has been selected.

I thought it would take longer.

**lute** · 04-19-2005, 11:47 AM

wow. that was quick!

**Maya & Inka's mommy** · 04-19-2005, 12:10 PM

Yup!! It is the German Joseph Ratzinger, and he chose the name Benedictus 16th!
I am not really happy with the choice, as he is quite old (78 ??) and very conservative. But we have to accept the choice of the conclave.
Welcome Pope Benedictus 16th!

**Barbara** · 04-19-2005, 12:18 PM

Today I said in the canteen: he will never be elected. One of my colleagues said he hopes yes because he has been confirmed by Ratzinger and he wants to say he has been confirmed by the pope

I suggested to bet but he didn't want to

**Buddy Blaze Lover** · 04-19-2005, 12:20 PM

Wow, this is really amazing!! Only two days of the conclave, and we have a pope!! I'm sure even though Benedict 16th is old, he will be great!

**PJ's Mom** · 04-19-2005, 02:13 PM

He's 78? Gee.

He's got some big shoes to fill. It'll be interesting to see how he does. I wish him luck.

**Cataholic** · 04-19-2005, 02:18 PM

I am not catholic (despite my confusing screen name, LOL), but, why would someone already in their 'senior' years be selected into this position? And, a conservative to boot? I am a little surprised.

Now, this is not meant to be inflammatory...as a non-catholic, I just don't really follow all that is Catholic. So, it is probably that I am overlooking some major commandment, "thou shall not question the pope choice..." or something similar

**smokey the elder** · 04-19-2005, 02:25 PM

He may have been elected because he IS older; the Cardinals may want someone who may not be Pope for 26 years again, but who knows?

Disclaimer: I was brought up Congregationalist.

**PJ's Mom** · 04-19-2005, 02:26 PM

I was brought up Catholic, and I still have no idea what's going on.

**Jadapit** · 04-19-2005, 02:27 PM

Lol. PJ's mom you are too funny.

**Kirsten** · 04-19-2005, 02:35 PM

He may have been elected because he IS older; the Cardinals may want someone who may not be Pope for 26 years again, but who knows?

Well, I think that's exactly the point. They said on tv that Ratzinger has health problems already, and so has that more liberal Italian about whom they said he would have had good chances, too.

I'm not catholic either, but I was surprised when I came home and saw on tv that the white smoke just had risen. I thought it would last longer. At this point, they didn't know who the new Pope was, but they kind of expected it would be Ratzinger and so it was. Since John Paul II was very much loved, I think we'll see how Benedictus XVI will handle the situation. I think the other 5 German Cardinals in the conclave were against him btw, as they are more liberal.

Barbara, I think it's kinda cool that your co-worker has been confirmed by the new Pope!

Kirsten

**elizabethann** · 04-19-2005, 03:18 PM

They're calling this new pope a "transition pope". The Catholic Church does not know what kind of role they want to "play" and what road they want the Catholic Church to persue. Will they accept women as priests? Will they accept the birth control pill? Will they let priests marry? They don't know. So what they did was elect this "transitional" pope. Chances are, he won't have as long a run as Pope John Paul the Second. So they can decide how they want to run the Catholic Chruch and when the time comes to elect another pope, they'll elect someone to lead them down this "new" road. Personally, I was rooting for the African Cardinal to be pope.

Eight years of Catholic School here. Though, I don't practice the religon anymore, it's still ingrained in me.

**popcornbird** · 04-19-2005, 04:47 PM

As a non-Catholic, I am SO confused here. I guess I just don't understand the whole concept of having a Pope, what bases they 'choose' on, and how a 'pope', who is an ordinary man and not God or a God-appointed prophet, can give blessings, etc. What do popes do?

So confused here. LOL! Any Catholic care to clear my confusion? He he he... I have several Catholic friends, but have never really talked to them on this topic, so I'm as confused and lost as it gets!

Originally posted by elizabethann
The Catholic Church does not know what kind of role they want to "play" and what road they want the Catholic Church to persue. Will they accept women as priests? Will they accept the birth control pill? Will they let priests marry? They don't know. D

Does that mean Popes can 'change' the laws of the religion?
*even more confused*

**Lady's Human** · 04-19-2005, 06:22 PM

An Islamic equivalent to the Pope would be the Caliph, the leader of Islam on earth.

The Papacy is based on Christ's direction to Peter "You are the rock upon which I will build my church" Peter was the first Pope, the leader of the church on earth. The Catholic church has maintained a pope (or leader) ever since. Catholics believe that all Popes are the successors to Peter, not the previous pope.

The Pope makes the rules for the church, which has at times throughout history caused difficulties for the church, particularly during the middle ages. There's a lot more to this subject that would take pages to write, I would suggest wikkipedia or how stuff works.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/papacy.htm