The then Cardinal Ratzinger often came across as a very authoritarian figure, strict and disciplined. But who exactly is our Pope? Let us take a more intimate look into the life of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
As we know Joseph grew up in an era, where two tyrannical regimes ruled the world, National Socialism and Communism. This would have given the young Joseph an inside view of how great power can corrupt those who lust after it. He also saw the collapse of these regimes, the violent end of National Socialism and the bloodless end of Communist rule in Russia.
Living under and observing these two great Evils has given our Pope a more wise understanding of what power can do to individual souls when God is taken out of the equation. It also afforded him the ability to observe what fear can do to the individual soul when confronted with evil. This has given our Pope a unique perspective and a forewarning of what can happen when God is ignored or substituted with other ideologies.
The then Cardinal Ratzinger (from when he became prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) took a deliberate position of protecting that which is inviolate, the Authority of The Catholic Church and the Infallibility of The Pope. He did not impose his own personal beliefs nor opinions he simply did his job, for he understood that The Church is not a democracy!
Cardinal Ratzinger would have learned many lessons upon being involved and then witnessing the Second Vatican Council and how some Priests and Bishops would misuse instructions from Vatican 2, for their own agenda's. For Cardinal Ratzinger fully grasped that Vatican 2 was to herald in a new spring time, not to demolish the Teachings of the Magisterium, but instead to fully incorporate what the Church had within and to then extend this to the Catholic populace world wide.
But from the lessons of life he was able to utilize, and with great wisdom, Cardinal Ratzinger recognized the great dangers of embracing the Marxist/Leninist Liberation Theology which was enveloping The America's. For one cannot hold the Rosary in one hand and a machine gun in the other, in the name of freedom. For what difference is it when the oppressed murder the Oppressors? From his own personal experience and also with his great intellect Cardinal Ratzinger with great determination and firmness steered the Church away from this dangerous theology and in full support of Pope John Paul II, they were both able to redirect and hold firm to the Church's position.
But this also took a toll on the Cardinals health and he suffered a mild stroke in the 1990's, which also mildly affected his heart. Joseph Ratzinger was not a man full of ambition, and hoped that soon he would be able to retire from his position of prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, so thoughts of becoming the next Supreme Pontiff never entered his mind. For Cardinal Ratzinger had a great and fierce love of Holy Mother Church but not a hunger for personal power.
Cardinal Ratzinger had hoped to retire to continue working on his website Communio and to enjoy his loves of music and books, and the company of good friends. Unlike the image that the press have portrayed, the then Cardinal Ratzinger has an impish sense of humor, and a very humble and self effacing opinion of his own qualities and gifts.
But God had other plans for this remarkable man and upon the sad death of our Beloved late Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals elected Cardinal Ratzinger as our next Pope, who then took the name Benedict in reference to St. Benedict a man who Joseph Ratzinger greatly esteemed.
The Catholic Church faces challenging times, one of which is the infiltration of 'relativism', but through this great man of Faith, he will steer the Church in the direction from which it came, Christ our Lord and Him Crucified.
Pope Benedict XVl will guide our Church with the help of The Holy Spirit, through the 21st century and to embrace that which has never been corrupted The Truths of our Church through the Apostles and the Early Church Fathers. Let us keep our Holy Father in our prayers, as he continues to instruct the Faithful from The Chair of Peter.
Peace of Christ to you ALL
Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.
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