Maybe he's more of a German "shepherd"?
Posted on 04/19/2005 8:15:12 PM PDT by murphE
A Melbourne bishop who worked in Pope John Paul II's private office for five years has rubbished claims that his replacement, former German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was a "rottweiler" on John Paul's behalf.
Some critics of the new Pope Benedict XVI have painted him as an ultra-conservative who doggedly enforced the late John Paul's doctrine.
Bishop Mark Coleridge, who returned from the Vatican in 2002 to take up the post of auxiliary bishop in the Melbourne Archdiocese, last saw Ratzinger during the Australian Bishops' trip to the Vatican last year. He is "puzzled" by the new Pope's negative reputation.
"As this talk about him being the Pope's rottweiler ... as if he's some grand inquisitor and that we're going to be burning heretics in St Peter's Square and garrotting them in the basilica, I think all of that is very, very wide of the mark," he told theage.com.au.
"He is the most courtly and gracious of men, a man of great personal charm, but it's a rather restrained style."
Bishop Coleridge believes the "deep partnership" between Ratzinger and John Paul was a key factor in the German cardinal's elevation.
"He had a constant conversation with the Pope, in a sense, through 26 years, and I think the conversation between Ratzinger and the Pope was one of the key factors in the unfolding pontificate."
Bishop Coleridge said the new Pope was extremely cultured, had an extensive knowledge of literature and "plays the piano splendidly".
He said some Catholics who were hoping for an overtly progressive pontiff were also going to be disappointed.
"Any Pope has to address the concerns of the world, and the concerns of the world are not necessarily just the concerns of the West, or particularly, the liberal West.
"He won't be able to overturn fundamental points of doctrine and discipline - no Pope can."
75 the new 60
While Bishop Coleridge agreed that Ratzinger's age - 78 - would leave many questioning the wisdom of the appointment, he believes the decision is a good one.
"The Vatican is full of fit old men, and he is one of them. He's a small man who doesn't carry weight, and he carries his years very, very well, and as someone said to me the other day '75 is the new 60'," he said.
"With medical care and life expectancy being what it is, I think this might not be a five-minute pontificate, but nor will it be the 26 years which we saw from the titanic John Paul II.
"I suspect that far from being more of the same, we might be in for a pontificate of surprises."
Oh well nobody's perfect. =D
I think too many people think The DaVinci Code is true.
Of course he's not a rottweiler. He's a German Shepherd. ;O)
You know, in 21 years, when I turn 78, I'd find it quite flattering to be termed a rottweiler.
Maybe he's more of a German "shepherd"?
great minds...
ping
Too bad for them, bravo for the rest of us! We need a pontiff who will pay attention to the needs of his flock, with concern for their spiritual well being, and to LEAD with decisions and actions that exemplify St. Peter.
Long live Pope Benedict XVI !!!
I love your new tagline! Brilliant!! :0)
I always wanted to take that test, but I couldn't get it to run.
I think I'm an English Sheepdog (big, sloppy, hairy, blind, loveable, etc....), but I've never taken the test.
Considering all of this talk about Opus Dei in the media and the new pope's involvement, you can be sure. Painting the Church as a bunch of conspirators covering up Jesus' true identity...the Slimes et. al. would like nothing better.
"Of course he's not a rottweiler. He's a German Shepherd. ;O)"
Good one! I will remember it. Though I'm not Catholic, so far from what I've read/heard, I appreciate his stated views on "relativism."
ping
If only...
Like I said, nobody's perfect...
A: A miniature Australia shepherd!
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