Joseph Ratzinger - Pope Benedict XVI died on Saturday
31st December 2022 - aged 95. The Pope defined a
conservative course for the Roman Catholic Church.
He was elected Pope, April 19 2005 and unexpectedly
resigned in February 2013. The first Pope in six
centuries to resign.

The Vatican said that Pope Benedict's health had taken a
turn due to advancing age.

Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
of Buenos Aires was Pope Benedict's successor and on
good terms personally. Pope Francis moved decisively
to re-shape the papacy, firing or demoting many of
Benedict's traditionalist appointees and elevating
the virtue of mercy over rules that Benedict had spent
decades refining and enforcing.

Pope Benedict the quiet intellectual who had largely
preached to the Church's most fervent believers was
soon eclipsed by Pope Francis who became a popular
successor and immediately sought to widen Catholicism's
appeal to make the Vatican newly relevant in world affairs.

Pope Benedict retired and lived at the monastery in the
Vatican City grounds.

Cardinal Pell will be attending Pope Benedict's funeral.
Cardinal Pell did not approve of Pope Benedict's resignation
in 2013.

Pope Benedict's death marks the end of an era.
Which health-wise on him took its toll.

As an era it -
saw the Pope struggle with the clergy sexual abuse
scandal. Pope Benedict went on to apologise for the abuse and
met with victims but he could not escape the reality that
the Churchj had shielded priests accused of molestation, minimized
behaviour and kept it all secret from civil authorities
forestalling criminal prosecutions.

His resignation was understandable.

May he Rest In Peace.

Lucky Pope, 95, dead, now he's in "HEAVEN".....Then again hummmmmm, who knows.

A male nurse recounts former Pope Benedict's last words:

"Lord, I Love You!" spoken early on Saturday. He died
later that day.

Pope Francis offered up prayers for his soul.

Opinions are the name of the game here, not great slabs copied from the media.

ttbn,

Most people can do both in discussions
especially when information needs to be provided
about a rather unknown entity like Pope Benedict.

That's usually
the norm. However you're not under any obligation
to participate in any way - especially if all
you have to contribute is your usual critical diatribe.

So how about something of more substance from you?

Dear Paul,

You're probably right about Pope Benedict.
He is in a better place. Well, at least, lets hope.

The announcements even look like newspaper columns. All stuff we will get for at least a week, then there will be the funeral, from people paid to deliver the news. I'm of the opinion that most of us here get all the news we want from the professionals, and OLO is our space to speak, and express our opinions.

I think that Pope Benedict was the best Pope in my lifetime. He was replaced by the worst one - so far; the way the West, and Christianity seems to be heading, it is impossible to know what the next one will be like, or if he will even be a proper Catholic.

There. That’s an opinion

ttbn,

Congratulations!

I knew you could do it!

Well done!

The Pope dies and goes to heaven, where he is greeted by St. Peter. “Welcome your holiness,” St. Peter says with a smile, “let me show you around.”

St. Peter shows the Pope the streets of gold, choirs of angels, and so many wonderful things. At last, they came to a verdant meadow with a quaint little cottage overlooking a lake. “And this is where you will be living,” St. Peter tells the Pope.

The Pope toures the small but well appointed cottage. “Odd,” he thought, “I truly expected a mansion in glory of my saintliness. But, then again, what more do I really need? I’m in paradise after all.”

The Pope thanks St. Peter for the tour, and assured him he would be very comfortable in the little cottage, as the two walk back outside.

As the Pope takes in the view, he spies a huge, glorious mansion across the lake. “Oh,” he exclaimed, gesturing with his arm, “that must be where God lives!”

“No,” St. Peter replies, “a lawyer lives there.”
The Pope was livid. “A bloody lawyer!?! A stinkn' bloody lawyer!?! I was Christ’s emissary on earth, his holiness, and the head of His church, and I’m in this pathetic dump, but you put a lawyer over there?”

“Well, you see,” St. Peter replies, “we get a lot of Popes in Heaven, but that’s our first lawyer.”

Dear Paul,

Maybe that lawyer was one of the High Court Judges that
let Pell off? (smile).

I hope that they'll screen the funeral here in Australia
like they did for the Queen. The pomp and ceremony should
be equally impressive.

I think Pope Benedict XVI recognised that he didn't have the CEO skillset for the job as Pope, so he resigned to what he Was good at - a very senior Catholic theologian ie. theorist. See the academic theorist strength of Benedict's pre-Papal career http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI#Academic_career:_1951%E2%80%931977

He also recognised his (albeit reluctant) past in the Hitler Youth and Nazi Armed Forces might forever tarnish his appointment as Pope. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI#Wartime_and_ordination

I reckon Pope's are best seen as CEOs of the Catholic Church global operation in which spiritualism plays a cementing role.

Hence Benedict's replacement, Pope Francis, appointed 2013, is much more suited as a charismatic CEO of the Catholic Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis

Amen Mavs

Furthermore

Benedict aka "Cardinal Ratzinger" chose to stand down from an ArchBishop CEO role in 1977-81 and instead then became "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" the top theoretician posi immediately before he became Pope in 2005.

Study this well Foxy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Ratzinger_as_Prefect_of_the_Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith

Amen :)

Waiting Foxy, Waiting... ;-)

What sayeth youse on the late Pope?

Hi Maverick,

The late Pope was certainly an interesting man.
I agree with you that he probably was more of
an academic than an administrator. Although
from some of the things that I have read - he
was very strong-willed and set in his ways. So
who knows? As for his Hitler-Youth background?
That was the norm growing up in Germany at that
time. His family were anti-Hitler, and he was never
a gunner in the Youth organisation he was forced to join. He
also left as soon as he could.

He wanted to be a priest from early childhood.
So he knew what he wanted.

There's an interesting DVD - that might be worth
watching - "The Two Popes," starring Anthony Hopkins.
It's based on the two Popes - Benedict and Francis.

Hi Foxy,

A Pope is buried in a plain wooden box made of cypress, not even polished, as a sign of humility.

Traditionally, interment takes place four to six days after a pope’s death. Three coffins are involved: an inner coffin made of cypress and bound shut with red ribbons; a slightly larger middle casket made of zinc and adorned with a cross, the pope’s name, the years of his papacy and his personal coat of arms; and an outer casket of elm or walnut, which is sealed with gold nails.

Indeed Foxy

The late Pope "was never a gunner in the Youth organisation".

However http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI#Wartime_and_ordination reveals reveals:

"In 1943...he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps as Luftwaffenhelfer..."

My own German sources reveal (please protect) that Gunner Ratzinger was an excellent 88mm anti-aircraft gun "Flak" shot, credited with shooting down a Lancaster, 2 B-17s, 3 Spitfires, 1 Mustang and a Hawker Tempest.

Please tell no one, as this is a little secret between you, me, the current Pope and needless to say, God.

In confidence Mavs

PS Foxy

That makes the late Pope an "Ace" with more than 5 required aircraft "kills".

This may have held him in good stead regarding higher things http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Ratzinger_as_Prefect_of_the_Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith

That is High Prefect of the Roman Inquisition.

Here is early footage of his role http://youtu.be/FAxkcPoLYcQ?t=34s

The poor old Pope probably had his COVID booster shot

Dr Kerryn Phelps and partner suffered COVID-19 vaccine injuries
http://youtu.be/gRiDgasJDNs

Hi Paul,

Thank you for all the detail about Pope Benedict's
coffin et cetera. I enjoy learning all the details.
It's another world isn't it?

Hi Maverick,

Thanks for all the links and more information about
Pope Benedict's Hitler Youth past. I believe that's
something he tried to atone for during his lifetime
by getting involved with Jewish people and their communities.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal
Centre in Los Angeles, who had a one hour private audience with
Pope Benedict when he became Pope - explained that the
Wiesenthal Centre had launched an investigation into
Benedict's role in the Third Reich only to discover that the
Pope's family - the Ratzingers were a family of anti-Nazis,
with no hint of anti-Semitism.

"The fact that he was in the Hitler Youth, if you were a
young child during the Third Reich and you didn't go you'd be
condemned , "said Hier."

"He didn't volunteer. That's not a blemish. We've done a bunch of research, and that should be clear."

Here's another link that may be of interest:

http://britannica.com/video/180295/Overview-Benedict-XVI-life-discussion-involvement-Hitler

I know only what I have read about him.
Based on this, I did not approve of the way he lived life.
Nevertheless, I saw him as a kind and scholarly man.
I felt liking for him, and sometimes even approval.
It is sad that he travelled through life on the wrong bus.

Thanks IF,

At least he resigned when he felt he couldn't cope.
Which probably was a good thing for him and his
Church.

Thanks la Foxy

For http://britannica.com/video/180295/Overview-Benedict-XVI-life-discussion-involvement-Hitler which contrary to the info from my confidants advises crack shot 88mm AA Gunner Ratzinger was "never a gunner"

I'm sooo disappointed - in mein informants' misinfor-mazion. I've just done kicked my pet Minenwerfer. Zie informants will be dealt with in zie best Putin-Trump tradition - dam gud gethrashin.

Meanwhile I was just beginning to like the late Pope - but he just got up and died! A young man snuffed out in the bloom of youth sob-sob.

Mavs :(

He tried to do what he thought was right.
Clearly, he was aware of his limitations.
Even though I disagreed with his philosophy, I still acknowledge a strong liking for the 'old boy'.
In another life, he would have been a good neighbour to have?

Pope Benedict lies in state at St. Patrick's Basilica
ahead of his funeral to be held at 9.30 am (our local
time) this morning. The funeral will be held by Pope
Francis and political and religious leaders apparently
will be paying their tributes. Us President Joe Biden,
British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak and the Dalai Lama
are expected to attend.

Hundreds of thousands have paid homage according to the
Vatican.

It will be a fitting final farewell to a Church leader
of one of the most powerful religious institutions in
the world.

.

This was a man who wanted to be a priest since his
childhood. For him he was a calling. He never wanted
the high position bestowed upon him. And when he saw
that he was not able to be effective - he resigned
and left the administrative task to someone better
suited for the job. Pope Benedict gave his Life to
his Church. May he Rest In Peace.

I sat and watched the BBC News video on UTube
this morning. It certainly was impressive.
The power and the glory of the Catholic Church
was on full display. As was the magnificence of the
Vatican City. So many priests, bishops, cardinals,
and nuns in all of their regalia in attendance.
So many readings and prayers being offered.

A funeral fit for a king.

The Church did full honour to this former Pope,
and then some.

I view the passing of Georg Ratzinger with much relief. As pope he was an utter failure (among many other issues, but most importantly) when it came to protecting children abused by catholic priests. His preference for 'doctrinal purity' exposed the hypocrisy of the church for all to see. Let's just hope it can be corrected.