c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Even before Pope John Paul II died last April, the world speculated what his replacement would do:

John Paul’s legacy would last for many generations, so a new pope would take the name John Paul III as a tribute. John Paul II was the most traveled pope in world history, so the new pope would travel extensively to match John Paul’s globetrotting.

John Paul’s selection as a non-Italian meant popes were likely to be non-Italian, so the new pope would be a charismatic person probably from Africa or Latin America. And the new pope would have to match _ or even exceed _ John Paul’s charismatic personality.

But none of those things happened.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was indeed non-Italian (he’s German), but when he was elected pope he took the name Benedict, not John Paul. He hasn’t traveled far from the Vatican. Even the new pope’s admirers say he doesn’t have the charm of John Paul II. And instead of being in the public eye, Benedict works largely behind the scenes at the Vatican.

Now that Benedict has passed the 100-day mark (July 27) _ a significant, albeit arbitrary and American measure of progress _ some observers say the relatively quiet start to his papacy has set the tone for Benedict’s rule.

“First, we’re seeing an advancement of what John Paul II stood for,” says the Rev. Thomas Daily, a theology professor at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa.

“Secondly we’re seeing that the world is seeing that he’s much more of a shepherd or pastor than the hatchet man he was portrayed as before he was elected pope. And thirdly, there’s evidence of a very public stance he will take on moral issues.”

His first major trip as pope will be Aug. 18 to his German homeland for World Youth Day in Cologne. About 1 million people are expected to attend. Benedict may make that his opportunity to give a defining speech.

Here’s a look at the most-defining issues of Pope Benedict’s first 100 days, including controversies, official pronouncements and signs of upcoming priorities:

Terrorism Statements

The pope recently condemned terrorism and at one public audience called on terrorists to “stop in the name of God!”

The pope referred to the attacks in Egypt, Britain and Turkey, but he didn’t mention a recent attack in Israel.

After an Israeli official criticized the pope for not specifically mentioning Israel, a Vatican spokesman said the Israeli attack fell under the pope’s general condemnation of terrorism. That’s something Dailey believes is accurate.

“When the pope gives a speech or talk like that he may reference a particular event like the terrorist bombing in Egypt but he’s talking on a moral universal scale,” he says. “So the event is an example, it’s not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the terrorist attacks.”

Pope John Paul II and Sainthood

During the massive public outpouring of grief after the death of John Paul, mourners at the funeral unveiled banners saying, “Santo Subito!” (Saint Immediately!)

The worldwide mourning over John Paul II, along with letters and pleas from cardinals, may have helped Benedict decide to waive the usual five-year waiting period for John Paul II to be eligible for sainthood. It’s even rumored Benedict may declare John Paul II “blessed” during the upcoming World Youth Day.

Benedict’s decision to fast track John Paul II to sainthood was an early decision in Ratzinger’s papacy and one wildly popular with clergy and churchgoers.

Condemning Gay Marriage

After Canada and Spain approved gay marriage laws, the Vatican responded. Strongly.

The Vatican newspaper reprinted statements the pope made as a cardinal condemning homosexual acts as a “serious depravity” and that homosexuals were “intrinsically disordered.”

He also wrote that same-sex marriages threatened the definition of marriage and that Catholics _ and particularly Catholic politicians _ were “obliged” to oppose gay marriage.

The Vatican also condemned gay couples who adopt children as “doing violence to these children” because the children would be living “in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development.”

In his first 100 days, those statements are perhaps the most forceful Benedict has made. That signals something, Dailey says.

“He’s looking at something much bigger than whether someone in a given country or state can have a marriage license,” Dailey says. “He’s saying that if we don’t consider the question of what a human being is, then our social and political life is going to self-destruct.”

Denying Holy Communion to Dissenting Catholic Politicians

Before the last presidential election, some U.S. bishops threatened to refuse the sacrament of Communion to politicians who supported abortion rights, stem cell research and other issues the Vatican opposes.

However, there wasn’t clear consensus about what bishops should do. That may change in October.

An early draft of a document that will be considered by the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican in October calls for refusing Communion to dissenting politicians, and even scolding Catholics who vote for them.

However, Benedict will likely stay clear of that controversy, Dailey said, because it’s already clear where he stands.

“The position is that anyone who professes to be a Catholic cannot at the same time profess something contrary to what the church believes in any other sphere of life,” he says. “The problem is not an issue of telling politicians how to vote. It’s a faith issue that if you belong to a religious group it means following what the religion believes.”

Upcoming Book on the `Pop Jesus’

With references to Jesus in everything from the movie “The Passion of the Christ” to the novel “The Da Vinci Code,” Benedict believes there is a misunderstanding of the biblical Jesus.

He wrote a book outlining what he believes are misleading modern presentations of Jesus in movies, books and TV. It is scheduled for release in October by Ignatius Press.

“Even though many see the `pop’ Jesus as representing God, they don’t perceive him as making any judgment upon their actions or lives,” Ratzinger wrote in a statement released by the publisher.

It will likely stir up a storm of controversy if the book becomes a critique about how Jesus is presented in popular culture.

(OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)

Dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox Church

It was probably John Paul II’s biggest disappointment.

It was John Paul’s goal to travel to Russia, which has a large Orthodox Christian population, but it never happened. He couldn’t undo centuries of strife.

The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church split apart in 1054. Since the fall of Communism in the early 90s, Orthodox leaders have accused Catholics of converting believers and seizing property.

John Paul II started a dialogue with Orthodox leaders. In late June, Orthodox leaders signaled they are ready to start talking again and take up the pope’s call to restore unity.

Benedict also will meet with Muslim leaders and tour a Jewish synagogue when he visits Germany in August, and indication that he wants to continue the interfaith dialogue John Paul II emphasized.

KE/JL END ZUKOWSKI