The new pope

temi · 04-21-2005, 11:36 AM

What do people think of the new pope? Most commentators suggest he will not take the catholic church in a radically different direction from John Paul the second

Merika · 04-21-2005, 11:49 AM

I know some people were skeptical based on him being German and having some childhood past in being forced to be in the Hitler teen Army. However, everything I've read about him has conveyed that he is very conservative and has a good strong character. Until proven different, I will believe the best about him.

I'm not Catholic and probably don't follow these things as well as people of that faith do. I do follow politics though and I think he will be a good leader in a time when the world really needs a few good ones.

temi · 04-21-2005, 12:16 PM

Like you I am not a Catholic either but I do not like prejudging people, I will give him the benefit of the doubt, his office is of immense importance, being the supreme leader of 1.1 Billion people worldwide

Star · 04-21-2005, 12:35 PM

I am a catholic but not a practicing one so this to me isn't high on my list of importance. I didn't know much about Pope John Paul the second either.

temi · 04-21-2005, 12:46 PM

Pope John Paul II was a traditional catholic; anti abortion, no ordination of women priest etc, the argument is that because the current Pope was his right hand man it is unlikely that he will move the church in a different direction to the one John Paul II directed the church.

darkangelism · 04-21-2005, 02:52 PM

i think its a temp position, he is old, might die within 10 years, then they will pick a younger pope.

Duke · 04-21-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkangelism

i think its a temp position, he is old, might die within 10 years, then they will pick a younger pope.

Being old is a pre-requisite for being a Pope I think. Why would you put a young man in that position, I mean think about it. When a Pope dies there is no greater show of faith than a funeral. Look at the masses that congregated to the last one, hell, people were waiting in linups for 24 hours. I'm not sure if that's faith or lunacy but it is dedication nonetheless and an obvious sign of the strength of the faith.

RandomSkater · 04-21-2005, 05:03 PM

As I watched when the new pope walked out i was amazed at how much importance the world (even non-catholics were there) put on a single man.

darkangelism · 04-21-2005, 05:59 PM

pope benedict the 16th is the oldest pope elected in the last 250 years.

I find it interesting that the man who is supposed to be closest to god is an elected position.

Star · 04-21-2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkangelism

I find it interesting that the man who is supposed to be closest to god is an elected position.

this is 1 of the reasons why I'm not a practicing catholic. I don't believe that the pope or any other person is closer to God then anybody else in this world. I don['t like the fact that a lot of people idolize him like he is a God. that's wrong IMHO.

There's a lot about religion itself that I don't agree with. I don't believe that if you're in a "religion" that that's the ticket into Heaven. I believe that just believing in God and being a good person while you are on this Earth that you will get to Heaven afterlife.

Duke · 04-21-2005, 08:05 PM

Maybe he meant closer to God by age ;-)

dogula · 04-21-2005, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temi

being the supreme leader of 1.1 Billion people worldwide

I am one of 1.1 billion and I can say that Pope Benedict XVI does not represent my supreme leader.

Merika · 04-25-2005, 09:02 AM

I think it's great that there are so many people in the world who have such a reverence for their religious leader. I'm not Catholic, so it means less to me personally, but whoever holds this position DOES carry alot of political weight as well.

I'm with Star....no religious leader would represent my free ticket to heaven either.

ovidiu · 04-28-2005, 08:30 AM

Temi,

As you know I have study philosophy-teology in Bologna (Italy), once me and my coleagues have made a trip at Rome (Vatican) and we meet in St. Peter square card. Ratzinger (actual Pope) I see him as a simple persone, we have discuss a little bit with him, sincerly he made to me a very good impresion. During my study I have the opportunity to learn and read from his books and the canonical letters that the Congragation he was in charge wrote.
Some of the people can say that he is a radical person but, in a world like the one we lived in, sometimes we have to be radical. The catholic church, as the church with the bigest numbers of members cannot accept many of the things that some goverments accept. For example the legalisation of marihuana (and the easy drugs) and the gay mariage. I don't have nothing with the gays. it's just an example.
If the church accept for example the gay marrage what will be next? The mariage between God knows what? Or if marihuana will be legalised what will be next? The legalisation of heroin?
Who knows what will be. I am only a human, and will be better is I will not speak about my oppinions. I trust that God will guide the Pope steps in to the right direction.

Ovi

Merika · 04-28-2005, 09:14 AM

I think the Church (Catholic or Christian) have a substantial enough reason to know if they give an inch.... the government (or society) will take a mile.

One big issue is gay rights. Years past, the church didn't care that they lived together or had civil unions. It was only until gay couples wanted to be married and accepted WITHIN the chuch legally, did the churches begin to fight them.

I've never known the church to be upset with any religion icons people may have in their home, yard or where they chose to worship...until the government (or society) began to attack their nativity scenes and such. If I moved to China...I wouldn't expect them to remove their religious icons....and I resent it when people move to the US and want OUR religious icons removed. If they are offended.....they can go back where they came from.

ovidiu · 05-03-2005, 01:00 PM

The gay problem is a problem if we can say so also inside the catholic church. Many priests that are gay and they have moved by their superiors in another location in the hope that masybe they will "cure". I think that wasn't a good solution. This was exactly the same thing as they done with the priest that has agress childrens.

Regards,
Ovi