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Reading JPII's work is a chore, to say the least.

But even the MOST conservative theologian I know has mentioned, frequently, that the Church has often, and successfully, "baptized" non-Catholic concepts for Her own, and better, use.

Further, as you know, the Catholic mind seeks synthesis (while maintaining doctrinal impeccability.) Has do do with that prayer for unity of Christ, you know...

Thus, a reconciliation of Hegel to Aquinas is not, in itself, some sort of launch into Protestantism; it is no different than Aquinas' reconciliation of Aristotle to Catholicism. Please note that we ARE speaking of "toward Catholicism" or "into Catholicism." The phrase is meaningful...

Further, the concept that "new" is de-facto "bad" is utterly ridiculous--as is its opposite (played hard by the poofter-wonks) that "old" is "bad." I am certain that you do not wish to become a knee-jerk reactionary.

As you can determine from hundreds of prior posts, I am hardly a neo-con admirer. On the other hand, the Pope is a fairly smart guy, and he is informed by REALLY good sources from above.

Last, not least: if his attempted reconciliation does not work, the Faith has not been compromised. The Nicene Creed was not revoked, nor the efficacy of the Mass and the sacraments.

Reading JPII's work is a chore, to say the least.

Hardly a "pastoral" approach is it -- for the Pope to write documents that no one can read? Isn't it ironic that in the days before the Church became "pastoral," the popes wrote in plain English (translated from the Latin of course) that anyone could read and understand.

even the MOST conservative theologian I know has mentioned, frequently, that the Church has often, and successfully, "baptized" non-Catholic concepts for Her own, and better, use.

This is easily and frequently misunderstood. There are natural goods which can be put to a supernatural purpose. But something which is inherently bad can never be "baptized." The Church has never taken the tradition of temple prostitutes and "baptized" it. Nor can it take a false and pernicious philosophy like Hegel's and baptize it. Aristotle outlined the basic principles of logic and reason which are natural goods and in no way contradictory to divine revelation.

Thus, a reconciliation of Hegel to Aquinas is not, in itself, some sort of launch into Protestantism

No, it's much worse than that. It's a launch into the post-modern world materialism, skepticism, and ultimately atheism.

the Pope is a fairly smart guy, and he is informed by REALLY good sources from above

It is not Catholicism to believe that the pope receives direct divine inspiration. No one ever said the pope was Delphic oracle. His inspiration should come from Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium, just like all other Catholics. The most dangerous possible aberration most likely to destroy the Catholic faith in the shortest possible time is to believe that the pope is some sort of medium for transmitting messages from heaven.

if his attempted reconciliation does not work, the Faith has not been compromised.

I see the faith compromised all around me. The new method is not to come right out and to make heretical declarations like Luther or Calvin. The more sophisticated method is to effect a reconciliation between truth and error, without ever directly denying the truth.

Further, the concept that "new" is de-facto "bad" is utterly ridiculous--as is its opposite (played hard by the poofter-wonks) that "old" is "bad." I am certain that you do not wish to become a knee-jerk reactionary.

The traditional Catholic does not automatically assume that "the new" is bad, but rather treats the "new" with more suspicion than "the old." "The new", being new, has not stood the test of time. "The new" is typically the product of the wisdom of men in one age; "The old" is the product of the wisdom of men from many ages. That's why up until Vatican 2, the Church never made rapid or radical changes to long-established traditions, be they disciplinary, liturgical, theological, or even practical. Where there is a doubt, "the old" gets the benefit.