Word: benediction
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Given this popularity, it should come as no surprise that the College of Cardinals elected as pope the man more instrumental than any other in helping John Paul II shape his papacy: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who chose the name Benedict. Benedict, the sixteenth pope to take that name, had for over twenty years the final word on doctrinal issues, and he was the last to be consulted before John Paul II made decisions of any consequence. Benedict himself wrote a great deal of the clarifications and philosophical defenses of Orthodox Catholic belief. He is a theologian as highly regarded...
Regardless of your beliefs, it is clear that Pope Benedict XVI will serve a dual role of unequaled importance and exposure; he will be both the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics and a political figure on the world stage. His election will have important repercussions for Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide, but it is critical to distinguish between Benedict’s two very distinct roles...
...matters of doctrine that Benedict, in his role as Prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith, has been so adept at elucidating must be left to Catholics to determine. It makes little sense for non-Catholics to criticize matters of religious faith. In terms of political power, though, the pontiff has an ability to raise awareness that is unmatched by any other religious figure. We are hopeful, then, that Benedict will show clear leadership and conviction in dealing with many pressing political problems that his unique role enables him to confront: the global AIDS epidemic, Islamic fundamentalism, and religious conflict...
...That’s the grade. That’s the grade for the course,” Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 said...
...Benedict XVI feels that he and John Paul II were involved in a battle for the duration of the previous papacy, and the battle continues. They were on crisis footing when he came in, and they continue to be on crisis footing. He sees the society surrounding the church in the West, and elsewhere, has having become worse, in the sense of making it harder to be a good Catholic and a comfortable member of society at large. And in this ongoing crisis, he appears to be willing to make the Church a minority clearly defined by its strong values...