Ratzinger Elected Pope

April 20, 2005

After a few puffs of black smoke -- one column amid pealing bells -- the most watched chimney in the world finally released a steady stream of white. This time the bells missed their cue by about ten minutes, but soon the world was informed that a new pope had been elected.

The election of Joseph Ratzinger, the first German pope to be elected in more than 500 years, came as no surprise to anyone. Ratzinger, a Vatican insider and a favorite of the late John Paul II, always figured prominently whenever media comentators speculated on the replacement for John Paul. Now, with Pope Benedict XVI steering a conservative course for more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, will the Church move even more to the right? Only time will tell.

Many German Catholics are saying that the new pope is too old and too conservative to move the Church into the 21st century. Some have expressed their disappointment that a younger, more progressive pope was not elected. Still, and in spite of foredrawn conclusions based on Benedict's conservative theology, the new pontiff does indeed seem to be one to set his own policies based on heartfelt, if conservative, convictions. While many will not like the fact that Benedict will probably continue the late John Paul's ban on women in the priesthood and married priests, they will find in the former Joseph Ratzinger a pope who will serve admirably as the vicar of Christ.

This is likely to be a very exciting ride and, I intend to follow his words and actions closely. So stay tuned!