Commentary; Posted: 6/1/05
Benedict XVI - a new pope, new opportunities and challenges
By Pastor John Blackford
Times Religion Columnist
Several days before the election of a new Pope in April, two leading American Roman Catholic priests were discussing on a TV talk show who might be chosen to succeed John Paul II as the leader of the worldís 1.1 billion Catholics. Among those mentioned was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Archbishop of Munich, Germany. They agreed he would not be elected. He was too old (78), too conservative and too much of a hard-liner.
A few hours later, the conclave of cardinals voting in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in Rome, selected Ratzinger by a large majority! He took the name Benedict XVI and began his reign over his flock.
The new pope is like his predecessor in many ways, and different in some. John Paul II was known as a philosopher, while his successor is considered to be a theologian; yet, in a homily shortly after he became pope, he sounded very philosophical when he referred to a ìdictatorship of relativismî as an issue to be faced. At John Paulís funeral, in the spirit of a shepherd, he gave the invitation, ìFollow me,î revealing his heart for his people. He has sought to emulate John Paul by reaching out to the Jews and other non-Catholics and seeking to break down a half-century-old barrier by Chinaís Communist government.
Both men were involved in World War II. John Paul, who was Polish, worked behind the scenes to oppose the Nazis. Benedict was enrolled against his will in the Hitler Youth, as required of all German adolescents, but he said he never attended any meetings.
Ratzinger was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for many years and thus was close to John Paul. His duties included the defense of orthodoxy in all areas of church life from liturgical translations to sex-abuse cases. He was known as the Vaticanís watchdog for dogma.
They shared a conservative point of view on social issues, including the condemnation of gay marriage, divorce and the possibility of human cloning. Last year, Cardinal Ratzinger warned American voters against departing from church teaching at the ballot box, with a special reference to abortion rights and euthanasia. He stated that voters would be guilty of ìcooperating in evilî if they backed candidates specifically because they advocated these positions.
For some time there has been criticism of the Vaticanís conservative stance and a considerable amount has come from American Catholics. It goes back to the 1950ís, when there was talk of a possible break with Rome and before abortion and euthanasia were in the picture.
Our mainstream press has expressed doubt and often been highly critical of the new popeís views on controversial matters. A lead editorial in one of the Twin Cities newspapers headed, ìPastor or Enforcer,î included the statement, ìIf he were elected, thousands upon thousands of Catholics in Europe and the United States would roll their eyes and retreat to the margins of the church.î This gloomy assessment was made by a Notre Dame University theologian shortly before Ratzinger became pope.
In an article in The Wall Street Journal (April 22, 2005) the question is asked, ìIs the Pope Catholic?î The answer is ìYes, of course. And critics are disappointed and annoyed that he is.î Since his election, Benedict XVI has shown himself to be a humble, self-effacing person and that he promises to be kind and fair in his upholding of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
A poll reported in the Minneapolis Star Tribune (May 15, 2005) shows ìMost Catholics in the state back choice for pope.î The survey indicated that 73 percent of Catholics, who make up about a quarter of the stateís adult population, favor the choice, with only seven percent disapproving. Twenty percent expressed no opinion.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll recently found that 81 percent of Catholics across the country support his selection. These results reflect the wide differences of opinion which exist among the liberal and conservative segments of American Catholics. Pope Benedict will seek to reconcile these divisions in America and elsewhere, especially in Europe.
The challenges Benedict XVI faces are many and large. There is a daunting task of repairing the ties with China, where the state-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association requires a pledge of allegiance to the Communist Party, not the pope, and where the party reserves the right to approve the countryís bishops, normally the prerogative of the Vatican.
The influence of secularism, both in the world and in the church, is a deep concern. The shortage of clergy, a problem for years, must be addressed. And there are other pressing matters he faces, not the least of which is the rift between the liberal and conservative elements in the church. He and his church are staking their future on their base, which consists of millions of devoted Catholics and faith in the teachings of Catholicism.
In his first papal mass, Pope Benedict praised predecessor and sent a message of openness and reconciliation to his fellow Catholics and to other religions. He quoted the words of John Paul in his first address to the faithful at St. Peterís Square after becoming pope in 1978, ìBe not afraid.î All people of goodwill, remembering that Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, will resonate to this sentiment.
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