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| Sunday, 24 April 2005 |
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A Pope with uncompromising views Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78 - now to be known as Pope Benedict XVI - was the clear favourite to fill the vacancy left by John Paul II's death. As one of the most influential men in the Vatican, he presided over the Pope's funeral earlier this month and was said to be among the pontiff's closest friends.
Cardinal Ratzinger has been Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - formerly known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition - since 1981. One of his first campaigns was against liberation theology, which had gained ground among priests in Latin America and elsewhere as a means of involving the Church in social activism and human rights issues. He has described homosexuality as a 'tendency' towards an 'intrinsic moral evil'. During the US election campaign, he called for pro-choice politicians to be denied Communion. He has also argued that Turkey should not be admitted into the European Union. The eighth German to become Pope, he speaks 10 languages and is said to be an accomplished pianist with a preference for Beethoven. Conservative Cardinal Ratzinger was born into a traditional Bavarian farming family in 1927, although his father was a policeman. At the age of 14, he joined the Hitler Youth, as was required of young Germans of the time, but was not an enthusiastic member. His studies at Traunstein seminary were interrupted during World War II when he was drafted into an anti-aircraft unit in Munich. He deserted the German Army towards the end of the war and was briefly held as a prisoner of war by the Allies in 1945. His supporters say his experiences under the Nazi regime convinced him that the Church had to stand up for truth and freedom. Cardinal Ratzinger's conservative, traditionalist views were intensified by his experiences during the liberal 1960s. In 1966 he took a chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tuebingen. However, he was appalled at the prevalence of Marxism among his students. 'Abuse of faith' One incident in particular at Tuebingen, in which student protesters disrupted one of his lectures, seems to have particularly upset him. In his view, religion was being subordinated to a political ideology that he considered "tyrannical, brutal and cruel". "That experience made it clear to me that the abuse of faith had to be resisted precisely," he later wrote. He moved to Regensburg University in his native Bavaria in 1969, eventually rising to become its Dean and Vice-President. He was named Cardinal of Munich by Pope Paul VI in 1977. Wolfgang Cooper, a commentator on religious affairs in Germany, fears that the cardinal could become a divisive figure in the papacy. "I think if Cardinal Ratzinger was Pope, a large distance could grow between the leadership of the Church and the faith," he predicted before the result was known. The Cardinal is a 'scientist' who 'prefers intellectual discussions', says Cooper, whereas many Catholics want priests and bishops "who will touch the hearts". Around the world, a billion Catholics are now wondering where their new Pope will take them. As a young priest Pope Benedict was regarded as progressive. For those who believe in the traditional values of the Church, the election of Joseph Ratzinger is a blessing. They know they can rely on him to hold the line against those with an agenda for change. But those who want to reform the Church may be less happy, as they see him as a man in the mould of John Paul II. Pope Benedict is firmly opposed to birth control, supports the celibacy of the priesthood, and is against the ordination of women. He has said that anyone who supports the "grave sins" of abortion and euthanasia should be denied Communion. Road from radicalism He has also spoken out against homosexuality, and once denounced rock music as "the vehicle of anti-religion". In fact there are few Catholic controversies of recent years on which Cardinal Ratzinger did not express his views forcibly. It may seem hard to believe now, but as a young priest he was regarded as a progressive. Then as a university professor during the student unrest of the 1960s, he became increasingly conservative. It was the late Pope who brought the Bavarian to Rome in 1981, and they became close friends. Cardinal Ratzinger ran the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 'God's Rottweiler' This Vatican department, a descendant of the Holy Inquisition, protects Church orthodoxy. The job earned him unflattering nicknames such as "The Pope's Enforcer" and "God's Rottweiler". He has a reputation for stifling dissent, and one of his early campaigns was against "liberation theology" in Latin America. Some priests became involved in fighting poverty through social action, but to Cardinal Ratzinger it smacked of Marxism. As a key aide to John Paul II he had a fearsome reputation, but those who know him say he is gentle and somewhat shy. North and south The first clue about any Pope's intentions is his choice of name. Cardinal Ratzinger could have called himself John Paul III. It would have been seen as a statement that he intended to continue the work of his mentor. Instead, he opted for Benedict, which comes from the Latin for "blessing". The last Pope Benedict reigned during the First World War. He is credited with settling animosity between traditionalists and modernists, and wanted to bring about a reunion with Orthodox Christians. The new Pope Benedict faces a variety of challenges, not least declining Church attendance and a chronic shortage of priests in many parts of Europe. Another task is to continue the drive towards better relations with Islam, as the two religions compete for converts in parts of the developing world. When John Paul II was elected, the focus was on East-West relations, and the Polish Pope was credited with helping to bring down communism. As the new papacy begins, it is the tension between North and South that is most pressing. Globalisation and debt relief are issues Pope Benedict will be expected to face. There is some surprise that a key member of the Vatican bureaucracy has been elected Pope. Many cardinals would like to see a less centralised Church, and a less powerful Pope who guides rather than governs. They may have to wait a little longer. Pope Benedict XVI looks like a man who will not be afraid to exercise his powers. **** What's in a pope's name? Vatican City - As soon as he said "yes" to being pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made his first major decision: He chose a new name. He was, of course, free to pick from any of his 264 predecessors, use his own first name or come up with something new.
Vatican-watchers will read the choice of Pope Benedict XVI like tea leaves, looking for clues to the spirit of his new papacy. If Ratzinger was paying tribute to the last pontiff of that name, it could be interpreted as a bid to soften his image as the Vatican's doctrinal hard-liner. Benedict XV, who reigned from 1914 to 1922, was a moderate following Pius X, who had implemented a sharp crackdown against doctrinal 'modernism.' On the other hand, he may have been honouring Saint Benedict of Nursia, who was regarded as a strict disciplinarian and is the patriarch of Western monasticism. He is believed to have lived between 480 to 547 AD. Tradition since 996 According to conclave ritual, the new pope gives his name to the cardinals while they are still gathered in the Sistine Chapel. The name was first revealed to the world in the 'Habemus papam' ("We have a pope") announcement from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday, shortly before Benedict XVI gave his first blessing. In the early church, most popes kept their own names, which accounts for such archaic appellations as Adeodatus, Formosus, Hyginus and Anastasius Bibliothecarius. In the 20th century, three popes took the name Pius, one Benedict, one Paul, and one John. In 1978, the newly elected patriarch of Venice, Albino Luciani, combined John and Paul to become the first John Paul in papal history. In deference to Luciani, who died after only 33 days in office, his successor became John Paul II. Choosing a new name as pontiff did not become a tradition until 996, when Bruno, the first German pope, became known as Gregory V. Named after a pagan god, the 6th-century priest Mercury changed his name to John II upon becoming Pope. Over the centuries, the most popular name has been John. Twenty-three Popes have taken the name of Jesus' most beloved apostle, followed by 16 Gregories, 16 Benedicts (including the latest) and 13 Leos. Benedict, which comes from the Latin for "blessing," is one of a number of papal names of holy origin such as Clement ("mercy"), Innocent ("hopeful" as well as "innocent") and Pius ("pious").
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