Thursday, April 21, 2005
The Pope Resurrected
What's this about a new pope you say? They elect popes like presidents and prime ministers? I thought god or someone would just tell us who the leader on earth would be. Guess I got it wrong eh.
Okay, okay, so there's a new pope. And a 78 year old nazi pope to boot. From an outsider with little interest in the matter, it smacks of giving the Oscar to an actor for some current substandard work 'cause he got screwed earlier. Cardinal Ratzinger's previous calling was as the church's doctrinal watchdog for Pope John Paul II. I'm thinking all the cardinals voted him in saying "eh, give the guy a break, we'll elect him 'cause he deserves a kick at the can and he won't last too long 'cause he's 78 fer christ's sake." It's like Jerry Ford becoming President for a bit.
I've heard this guy being called the "Transitional Pope". That's quite a compliment for the spiritual leader of almost a billion people. Most quotes from officials close to the church seem to be cautious at best. I like this one from some guy we'll never hear of again who's name escapes me, "We consider the election of Ratzinger a catastrophe ... We can expect no reform from him in the coming years ... I think even more people will turn their back on the Church." I'd consider that a blessing in disguise. Heeeeeee
What's this about a new pope you say? They elect popes like presidents and prime ministers? I thought god or someone would just tell us who the leader on earth would be. Guess I got it wrong eh.
Okay, okay, so there's a new pope. And a 78 year old nazi pope to boot. From an outsider with little interest in the matter, it smacks of giving the Oscar to an actor for some current substandard work 'cause he got screwed earlier. Cardinal Ratzinger's previous calling was as the church's doctrinal watchdog for Pope John Paul II. I'm thinking all the cardinals voted him in saying "eh, give the guy a break, we'll elect him 'cause he deserves a kick at the can and he won't last too long 'cause he's 78 fer christ's sake." It's like Jerry Ford becoming President for a bit.
I've heard this guy being called the "Transitional Pope". That's quite a compliment for the spiritual leader of almost a billion people. Most quotes from officials close to the church seem to be cautious at best. I like this one from some guy we'll never hear of again who's name escapes me, "We consider the election of Ratzinger a catastrophe ... We can expect no reform from him in the coming years ... I think even more people will turn their back on the Church." I'd consider that a blessing in disguise. Heeeeeee
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
The Pope Dies
I won't bore you with a link to a story about it. Millions of people converge on Rome to see the body, millions or perhaps a billion or more will watch the funeral on TV. I did see this poll at metro news asking what did you do to mourn the death of John Paul. I take minor consolation in that 66% didn't do anything and that's leading the race 'cause well, it just seems like a pop culture event but nothing more to me. I just didn't really care other than it's the loss of life. I felt much more for the 5 that recently died in Ottawa in an apartment blaze in Chinatown here. Listening to the neighbours and friends of the family on CBC radio this morning was quite sad.
I won't bore you with a link to a story about it. Millions of people converge on Rome to see the body, millions or perhaps a billion or more will watch the funeral on TV. I did see this poll at metro news asking what did you do to mourn the death of John Paul. I take minor consolation in that 66% didn't do anything and that's leading the race 'cause well, it just seems like a pop culture event but nothing more to me. I just didn't really care other than it's the loss of life. I felt much more for the 5 that recently died in Ottawa in an apartment blaze in Chinatown here. Listening to the neighbours and friends of the family on CBC radio this morning was quite sad.
