NEWS STORY: New Pope Prepares to Emerge from John Paul’s Shadow

c. 2005 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ In death and in life, John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger have been inseparable. It took the death of his friend to show the world the human side of the longtime guardian of church orthodoxy, who moved to the forefront of papal contenders after giving an […]

c. 2005 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY _ In death and in life, John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger have been inseparable.

It took the death of his friend to show the world the human side of the longtime guardian of church orthodoxy, who moved to the forefront of papal contenders after giving an emotional sermon at John Paul’s funeral, choking up as he invoked images of the late pope.


And now the legacy of John Paul II looms large as Ratzinger prepares to be formally installed Sunday (April 24) as Pope Benedict XVI, the 264th successor of St. Peter.

In public remarks the day after his election, the new pope spoke of sensing John Paul at his side: “I seem to feel his strong hand holding mine. I feel I can see his smiling eyes and hear his words, at this moment, particularly directed at me, `Be not afraid.”’

On Thursday, Benedict announced that he would keep in place the top Vatican officials from John Paul’s papacy. So church observers expect in many ways the new pontiff will continue the work of his predecessor, particularly in closing off discussion on issues such as allowing women in the clergy and in defending the church’s traditional teachings opposing artificial contraception, same-sex marriages and homosexual practice.

But even as pigeons begin reclaiming their space from the masses that gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Benedict XVI finds himself facing tremendous challenges in the church John Paul left behind. The issues before him range from religious persecution in countries from China to Sudan, to the aggressive proselytizing of Catholics by fundamentalist Christians throughout Latin America and Africa, to the growing discontent of many in the United States and Europe who want greater roles for laity, especially women.

And even as he praised John Paul, Benedict XVI indicated his will not be just a caretaker pope. At the same time the church holds on to what it inherited from the past, the new pope said in his first address that it must not be afraid of the future.

What kind of pope will Benedict XVI be?

American church leaders are aware the new pope has been portrayed as an austere, authoritarian figure. In 1981, Pope John Paul II named Ratzinger prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where for nearly a quarter-century he defended church teaching even to the point of disciplining bishops and theologians, and reining in the authority of national bishops’ conferences. He also led the preparation of a new Catholic Catechism and was a prominent voice urging the church to be active in the public arena on issues from stem cell research to same-sex marriages to abortion.

But those who know him describe him as mild mannered, even shy, a scholarly individual who is sensitive to the needs of churches throughout the world.


Avoid the caricatures, U.S. cardinals said.

“We have to get to know this man. The more people get to know him as we have, we will come to love and appreciate him,” said Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles.

Bishop Anthony Pilla of Cleveland said the man he has met several times is “humble, thoughtful, reflective.”

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said he was heartened by the comment of a cleaning woman at the congregation for doctrine. “This is a true Christian,” she said of the new pope.

But many of the new pope’s supporters clearly expect the next Vicar of Christ on Earth to continue to vigorously uphold church tradition against forces seeking change. “The church is safe,” a nun yelled across the road to a reporter outside a seminary in Rome a day after the election. “Tell the world: The church is safe.”

On the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in his first public appearance, the new pope called himself “a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.”

In remarks the next day, in apparent sensitivity to the concerns some have regarding his papacy, Benedict assured Catholics of his commitment to social justice work. He also said theological dialogue was a necessity, and reached out with “affection” to people of all faiths to work together for the good of humanity.


In addition, the new pope promised to listen to people within the church. He told the world’s cardinals he would seek their advice “so I can truly be the servant of the servants of God.”

Some issues, such as women priests, are still considered off-limits. But some are hopeful that as pope, Ratzinger may back away from a hard-line stance on other issues, such as the use of gender-neutral language in translations.

U.S. church leaders also said this week that they believe the new pope will support them in their effort to keep abusive priests out of the ministry. Vatican officials had expressed concern about whether the U.S. bishops’ “zero tolerance” policy violated the rights of clergy, but Cardinal George said the new pope has already spoken to him of his concern about the abuse issue.

The new pope “wants to be collegial,” Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington said. “He wants the advice of the cardinals.”

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Reaction to the election outside the Catholic Church has been mixed.

Many in the Islamic world and many Jewish groups praised Ratzinger’s election, citing his openness to dialogue. “We welcome Pope Benedict XVI with open arms and a commitment to be a blessing to each other,” said Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding.

But some other religious leaders have expressed concern regarding his harsh treatment of theologians and their perception that he considers other Christian groups to have lesser standing.


“Cardinal Ratzinger’s long tenure in the Vatican has been marked by a theological tone that is rigid … and confrontational,” said the Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ.

Inside the church, the new pope is still relatively unknown. Almost six in 10 people responding to a Gallup Poll for CNN and USA Today after the election said they did not know enough about the new pope to have an opinion. Thirty-one percent of respondents had a favorable opinion of the new pope; 9 percent had an unfavorable opinion.

But the poll also showed the challenge Benedict faces if he attempts to impose an authoritarian approach to church teaching. Three-quarters of the respondents said they were more likely to follow their own conscience on moral questions than papal teachings.

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Many observers agreed it is too early to tell what kind of pope Benedict XVI is going to be.

John Allen, a respected Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, said there is great concern among progressive Catholics that “the enforcer they knew at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has now been placed in charge of the entire church.”

However, Allen said, the office of pope has greater responsibilities, and in his early remarks about listening to others and promoting interfaith dialogue, the new pope seems to be reaching out to a wider audience.


Even those who argue for a much larger role for laypeople in the church have reason for hope, starting with Ratzinger’s decision to take the papal name Benedict. Benedict XV, who was pope from 1914 to 1922, was considered a moderate following Pius X, who cracked down on doctrinal modernism.

“Benedict XV began his papacy with a divided church and immediately distinguished himself as a unifier and a healer,” said the Rev. Donald Cozzens, author of “Faith That Dares to Speak.” “Pope Benedict XVI begins his pastoral leadership at a time when the church is deeply polarized, especially in Europe and North America. Is it not possible that one of his first goals as pope will be the healing of the present divisions shaking the foundations of the Catholic Church?”

(David Briggs is religion reporter for The Plain Dealer of Cleveland.)

KRE/PH/RR END BRIGGS

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