YouthNoise | A Peek at the New Pope

A Peek at the New Pope

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now known as Pope Benedict XVI, was elected as Pope John Paul II's successor on April 19. Like the new kid shyly inching down the cafeteria line, he seems to be the person to talk about these days. Like him or not, he's here to stay.

The new pope, from Germany, is being hailed as similar to his predecessor with respect to being a champion of civil rights. He, too, is against the death penalty, as well as preemptive war. He has even recently, to the delight of animal activists, denounced the inhumane practice of foie gras, speaking with compassion on the subject:

"...we cannot just do whatever we want with them. ... Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible."

	JoeyDaubenclaims, "There's a spiritual war going on..."
	JoeyDaubenclaims, "There's a spiritual war going on..."

However, his zeal for human rights does not extend toward the gay community, or to a woman's right to choose or become ordained. Critical of progressive Catholicism, Benedict XVI refuses to change the age-old stance on marriage, family, and homosexuality, even within the light of the new century. Famous for cracking down on such progressive ideals, the new pope has already received much criticism. Jurandir Arauj of the National Conference of Bishops Afro-Brazilian Section said of Benedict XVI, "It seems that he is too conservative. Hopefully the Holy Spirit can help him change."

At 78, it is unlikely for "an old dog to learn new tricks." While Ratzinger was a progressive in his youth, today he is heavily focused on tradition and keeping things the way they've been. From stressing the evil of gays and pro-choice voters to denying that condoms can prevent AIDS, from almost ignoring church sex abuse scandals to refusing divorced Catholics communion to even denouncing rock music, it is an almost certainty that Ratzinger will not be adopting any progressive ideals any time soon.

Whether or not this controversial man is loved in homes across the world, he will certainly provide a deep influence on many of them, inside and out.



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