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The New Pope
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
"Habemus Papam" - We have a Pope. His name was Joseph Ratzinger. He is
now Pope Benedict the sixteenth. The 265th Pontiff of the Catholic Faith
numbering 1. 1 billion believers worldwide is also the eighth Pope of German
origin There have been fifteen Pope Benedicts before him.
The new Popes selection was no upset win. He was the top favourite when the
115 Cardinals went into conclave and emerged victor in the second fastest
Papal election of the 20- 21st centuries.Joseph Ratzinger was only one of three
Cardinals in the 115 not appointed by his predecessor Pope John Paul Two.
This senior Cardinal is 78 years of age.
Being involved the administrative sphere of Vatican for nearly three decades and
having been regarded as the right - hand man of John Paul II for more than two
decades this strict, no - nonsense eminence enjoyed the support of around 50
Cardinals when the elective process commenced. He reportedly gained the
necessary 77 votes in the fourth round of voting.
The 264th successor to the first Pope St. Peter appeared from behind the velvet
curtains on the Central balcony of St. Peters Basilica at 6. 37 pm.Wearing a
brocade stole around his shoulders and a white silk "suchetto" on his head. With
a rare almost beatific smile brightening up his face Pope Benedict announced
"After the great Pope John Paul II the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and
humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord"in German accented Italian."More
than anything I entrust myself to your prayers. In the Joy of the resurrected
Christ, trusting in his permanent help , we will go forward:". He continued.
The new Pontiff then said that they will move on to Benediction and led the open
air congregation in a Latin prayer. The Crowd echoed a thundering "Amen".
Finally came the traditional blessing "Urbi et Urbi".The multitudes crowding in St.
Peters square shouted its greetings and erupted into loud applause. Crucifixes
were raised, rosaries gripped and flags waved as the new Pope raised his
hands in a clenched salute first , next a sweeping wave and then raised up ams
in grateful acceptance of the crowds cheers. In 10 minutes at 6.47 pm the new
Pope was gone. Then came the Cardinals in Crimson squeezing themselves into
the balcony and waving to the crowd.
The election of a new Pope is usually an event of elation and ecstasy to his
followers both clergy and laity. There is however some uneasy reflection in the
atermath of Pope Benedict the sixteenths elevation. Cardinal Ratzinger has long
been regarded as an arch - conservative in Catholic circles. Perceived as a
committed hardliner he is seen as a regressive anti - modernist who will stand
firm against all "progress" in the name of the faith.
While his election itself is seen as the rallying point of all Conservative elements
in the Church troubled by the new winds of change blowing within and without the
cloisters of the single largest religious body in the World liberal sections are
concerned and to some extent worried. This is mainly due to his track record.
In 1981 Pope John Paul appointed Cardinal Ratzinger as the Prefect or head of
the Church's Congregation for the doctrine of the faith. This is the institution that
succeeded what was earlier known as the Holy office of the Inquisition. This was
the powerful instrument through which Vatican countered any sign of heresy and
kept the faithful toeing the Church hirarchy's line.
Cardinal Ratzinger performed his duties firmly. Never lacking in the courage of
his convictions he adopted a hard approach towards most issues bullying and
browbeating those wandering "black" sheep into abandoning all "independence"
and getting back to the flock. This along with his ultra - conservative views on the
burning issues of the day made him quite unpopular with the liberal and younger
elements of the Church. "Der PanzerKardinal", "Grand Inquisitor" "Cardinal No" "
Gods Rottweiler" "The enforcer" "Defender of the faith", etc were some of the
unflattering descriptions used by sections of the clergy and laity in referring to
this strict disciplinarian and dogmatic doctrinarian.
Even before the voting began Joseph Ratzinger in his homily to the 115 Cardinal
electors condemned what he described as "the dictatorship pf relativism" and
called for a "clear and unambiguous faith" that would not be rocked by
ephemeral whims and fancies.
A website run by some of his admirers say that Ratzinger "has been putting the
smackdown on heresy since 1981". Whatever his critics may say there is no
denying that Ratzinger's crusade in defence of Orthodox Catholicism has
succeeded in reversing the tide of ecclesiastical reform that flowed in the realm
of the Church after the Second Vatican Council meeting of 1962 - 65.
Sri Lankas own Fr. Tissa Balasuriya was one reformist, free thinker who was
chastised by Ratzinger for his "heretical" opinion on matters like Salvation and
Ecumenism and barely escaped ex - communication.
One of the worst casualties of Ratzingers orthodox hardline stance was the
Fransican friar from Brazil Leonardo Boff. Deeply concerned about the rights
and aspirations of the poor and the marginalised Boff championed the cause of
the down trodden. He advocated ardently the radical thology known as
"Liberation Theology: which flourished in Latin America during the seventies and
early eighties.
This marxist oriented thology was abhorred by Ratzinger. Boff was summoned by
the Vatican and made to suffer the "Grand inquisition" of Ratzinger. A broken
Boff caved in and renounced his position. He retired to a monastery outside Rio
de Janeiro refusing to take up cudgels against Ratzinger.
As a result mainly of the new Popes efforts the Church remains a bastion of
reactionary stances his critics say It is firmly opposed to birth control, divorce,
religious pluralism, homosexuality, ordination of women as priests and allowing
marriage for male priests.
This ultra - conservative position while maintaining rigidity of Church tenets has
not been without a downside.Those of a liberal mindset as well as youths are
keeping away from Church attendance. The pews of many Churches in Europe
and North - America are empty .While attendance declines bitter divisions have
also set in among the faithful. There are also many scandals of sexual
misconduct and corruption.
"Whether necessary prophylaxis or a naked power play, (Ratzingers) efforts to
curb dissent have left the Church more bruised, more divided, than at any point
since the close of Vatican II" wrote John. L. Allen jr in the unauthorized biography
"Cardinal Ratzinger:the Vatican's enforcer of the faith" in 1999.
Another criticism against the new Pope is over his religious absolutism. At a time
when attempts are made to achieve religious harmony if not unity Ratzinger is
seen as a "spoiler".The Hindustan Times reported: “RSS Chief KS
Sudarshan (on April 20, 2005) made a scathing attack on the new Pope
accusing him of "religious intolerance" and said such mindset leads to conflicts.
Recalling the millennium peace summit of 2000 in New York where 1100
representatives from different faiths signed a document that there should be no
bloodshed in the name of religions as they were different routes to one God,
he said, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger held a press conference shortly thereafter
at the Vatican and released a 36 page doctrine 'Dominus Jesus'.
"The doctrine objected to anyone trying to bring their religion at par with the
Roman Catholic Church and described it as crossing limits of tolerance. It said
non-Christians cannot get salvation as they don't consider Jesus Christ as the
son of God and even non-Catholics would find it difficult to get salvation as they
dont consider the Pope as their head", Sudarshan said at a function to mark
the second anniversary of devotional television channel Sadhana.
One point stated in the new Pontiffs favour is his choice of the name Benedict.
The fifteenth Pope Benedict (1914 to 22) was supposedly a "peace pope"
campaigning diplomatically for an end to world war one and the ushering in of
peace. He also kept the Vatican neutral. This is being depicted as a sign that the
sixteenth Pope too is a man of peace. This may well be so.
Others however raise troubling doubts. Apparently the fifteenth Benedict like his
sixteenth namesake had reactionary anti modern often irrational views on a
number of issues. So the inspiration for Ratzinger in selecting this name could be
those shared opinions too.
Moreover the new Pope has very little understanding or appreciation of the
problems faced by the people of Asia, Africa and Latin America. In fact Ratzinger
has only a few years of working with people in Parishes. He has for the most part
been an ivory tower scholar and an administrator ensconced in the power portals
of the Vatican. He has little grasp of the suffering undergone by the poor and
ordinary masses.
Furthermore he is to a great extent Euro - Centred. Now the original St. Benedict
is regarded as the Patron saint of Europe. So Ratzinger may have chosen the
name Benedict due to his Euro vision. A vision that influenced greatly the
European Unions decision to keep Islamic Turkey out.
Joseph Ratzinger was born on April 16th 1927 - on Holy Saturday between
Good Friday and Easter Sunday - in the Catholic town of Marktl am inn in
Bavaria. He was the youngest of three children.His father was named Joseph
and mother Mary.The senior Joseph was a Policeman whose outspoken criticism
of Hitler's National Socialism or Nazism made the family shift home to several
places.
They finally settled down in a town called Traumstein where young Joseph was
enrolled at a Seminary. He flirted briefly at the age of fourteen with Nazism being
a member of Hitler Youth before pulling out.He was drafted in 1943 into the FLAK
or Anti -Aircraft Corps in Munich.Ill - health prevented his being sent to the
frontline. In early 1945 he deserted the army and ran home to Traumstein. When
the American troops occupied Traumstein the 18 year old youth was held in
prison for a few months and released. In November he re-enrolled at the
Seminary and continued his Scholarly study and Priestly pursuits.
He was a brilliant student excelling in debate and discussion. Displaying a
remarkable flair for languages Ratzinger was proficient in eight comprising Latin,
Greek, German, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portugese.He took up
theology and philosophy. In 1951 he was ordained as a priest. In 1953 he
obtained his doctorate in phlosophy. In 1957 he became a lecturer at the
Munich university in Fundamental theology. His mentor was Hans Kung who
helped advance Ratzingers career. From 1957 to 1981 Ratzinger lectured in
many German universities on theology and doctrine.
Ironically Ratzinger along with his mentor Kung were seen as liberals during the
second Vatican Council of the early sixties. The student revolts of Europe in the
late sixties caused a radical reversal of position in Ratzinger. He became
convinced that a firm conservative fundamentalism was required to steer the
Church and its followers. Later on he was to turn against his mentor Jung and
was instrumental in depriving him of the license to teach on account of his
"unacceptable" views.
In 1977 March Ratzinger became Archbishop of Munich. Three months later he
was Cardinal. It was as Cardinal that he interacted and associated with his
predecessor. A deep relationship based on identity of ideology emerged. Three
years after John Paul took over as Pope Ratzinger was summoned to Vatican
and made the "Grand inquisitor". Thereafter his stock rose in Church circles and
was regarded as the power behind the throne. In later years with Pope John Paul
two's deteriorating health the younger Ratzinger virtually administered Vatican.
Joanna Manning author of "Is the Pope Catholic?" sums up what lies ahead thus
"It couldn't have been worse. The dream for reform in the structure of church has
died and it also signals the death of creative theology in the church. He will set a
very rigid doctrinal course for the church. Issues such as women's ordination; its
probably the end of the road. As Cardinal he sent a message there is no place in
the Church for dealing with the modern world and liberation movements"
Being Seventy - eight Pope Nenedict is expected only to be "transitional".
Nevertheless the strong personality that he is the new Pope is certain to make
his indelible stamp on the Church during this tenure. What is troubling for now is
the visible schism between the Conservative and Liberal elements of the Church.
The Liberals most of them from the concerned laity are definitely worried.
Dianne Neu co - director of the Womens alliance for theology, ethics and ritual
described these concerns effectively " Cardinal Ratzinger is the architecht of the
anti - woman, anti - gay, anti - reproductive choice policies the Vatican has held
for over 26 years. Having hm as Pope means these policies will only become
more entrenched.I cant believe they really elected him. I cant believe the Holy
Spirit spoke to them this way. I had hope the new Pope would take us into the
21st century not back to the 20th Century". [The Sunday Leader]
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