Where There's White Smoke, There's Fire

It’s a bad sign when the new Pope has been called 'God's Rotweiler’ and the (former) Pope's 'Grand Inquisitor'.

At a time when Catholics could really use some fresh blood and new eyes, they appoint Cardinal Ratzinger, a man who speaks out often against divorce, gay marriage and isn’t even very well liked by his own countrymen for his stance against women priests, amongst other things.

But hey, he used to be more progressive. After being attacked by left-wing students who felt he wasn’t progressive enough, he evidently changed his mind… But that couldn’t be a personal reason, could it?

He was a member of Hitler’s Youth briefly when it became compulsory, but was able to leave because he was training in seminary. He enrolled in an anti-aircraft unit protecting a factory, but later deserted, and even spent a few weeks in a prisoner of war camp.

He’s said in later interviews that although he opposed the Nazis, he couldn’t resist openly – a point some historians disagree on.

I saw a movie a long time ago called Saving Grace, starring Tom Conti. He played a newly elected Pope who inadvertently ends up locked out of the Vatican and gets to see what life truly is like for some of his followers.

I’ve often wished that for a man like that to somehow become Pope (although let’s face it, if it happened, it would be a fluke *or a miracle*). He was a man who cared for those around him. In fact, he loved them, and subtly conveyed that he was honored to have the opportunity to get to know them.

Cardinal Ratzinger is described as uncharismatic, lacking in leadership skills and evidently isn’t even much interested in Rome’s inner administrative workings.

But he’s the Catholic Church’s man. God help us all.