Ratzinger is, as I see it, a safe choice – he’s European, but he’s not Italian (nor is he Jewish). He is conservative, but probably nowhere near as conservative as the various Latin American candidates. He was close, professionally and personally, to Pope JPII, so there are no radical changes – good or bad – looming. As Michel points out, he has some questionable entries on his CV, but as Bruce counters, these should be taken with a grain of salt.
Most importantly, he’s 78. That’s 20 years older than JPII was when he was elected. Benedict XVI is not expected to last.
He’s the rebound pope.
Hm, I see less Leslie Nielsen and more an aging Rutger Hauer. Long live our new replicant Pope!
oh wait, built-in 4-year lifespan. So that’s OK.
Leslie Nielsen for sure. Possibly even Joe Pesci.
If you’ve seen Sin City, the Rutger Hauer comparison is all the more chilling.
Leslie Neilson similarties or not, I think we’re going to see that this guy just isn’t as funny as the last Pontiff. Mark my words, alot of those Pope jokes that were generated in the JPII era are going to fall by the wayside.