Breaking News : New Pope elected

[Steve H]

Smoke coming out of the vatican, and St Peters bells are chiming...

BBC News 24 and Sky news..

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...331901,00.html

[bob_builder]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4462077.stm

[Damien]

Its not me, i'am sorry to say. So your hopes are dashed i am sure

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by Steve H

Smoke coming out of the vatican, and St Peters bells are chiming...

BBC News 24 and Sky news..

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...331901,00.html

FIIIIRRRREEEEE!!!!!!!



Whhhhoooooo wwwhhhoooo! ne naw ne naw

[punky]

Apparently the white smoke is created by the ballot papers being burnt.

I am sure other world leaders are looking at that and probably thinking that ain't a bad idea..

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by punky

Apparently the white smoke is created by the ballot papers being burnt.

I am sure other world leaders are looking at that and probably thinking that ain't a bad idea..

Actually, I can think of some world leaders who think it's a good idea just to set fire to their opponents

[Macca371]

It's Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
__________________

Ultra Conversative I'm afraid
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He will be known as Pope Benedict the 16th

[NitroNutter]

Originally Posted by Diamond

It's Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
__________________

Ultra Conversative I'm afraid

damn the worlds gonna get an ear bending or a while then :P

Or is that a typo

[Damien]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cardinal_Ratzinger

German

[Russ B]

Originally Posted by Diamond

Ultra Conversative I'm afraid

Ohhhhhhh dear......

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Russ D

Ohhhhhhh dear......

is that bad then , is it going to be a fire and brimstone job

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by Steve H

Smoke coming out of the vatican,

And an order for 500 pizzas, several thousand packets of crisps and a chocolate cake has been sent out

[Damien]

atzinger, once a teenage infantryman in the German army at the end of World War II, and then briefly an inmate in an American prisoner-of-war camp, has repeatedly stated he would like to retire to a Bavarian village and dedicate himself to writing books. But recently, after recovering from serious health problems, he told friends he was ready to "accept any charge God placed on him."

As dean of the College of Cardinals and prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Ratzinger has been closer to John Paul II than any other prince of the Church.

The Pole and the German have been called intellectual bedfellows. For almost 20 years, the two met at least once a week, usually Fridays, for a 90-minute discussion of doctrine and discipline. A working lunch followed, lasting often until late in the afternoon.

A theological liberal of sorts in his youth, Ratzinger was later nicknamed the "Panzerkardinal" for his iron hand in bringing Marxist priests in Latin America and clerics with mushy views on sexual ethics to heel.

His image as the Vatican's "enforcer" stands in stark contrast with Ratzinger, the gentle intellectual and pianist Germans have come to admire when he was a professor of fundamental theology and, later, archbishop of Munich and Freising.

But then, as Figueiredo said, this is a dramatic period in world history, a period requiring a tough church leader.

Ratzinger has recently described Christianity as "tired." He has bemoaned the "almost total collapse of Christianity in Europe," while recognizing movements of revival are making headway.

Like the pope, he reminded Christians of their baptismal vows. "It is in baptism where the communality of all Christians lies," explained Figueiredo, meaning that this is the one sacrament acknowledged by most denominations.

Ecumenism is among the pressing issues of Christianity today, especially in the face of growing Islam. John Paul II tried to advance it forcefully, especially with Eastern Orthodoxy.

As a native of Germany, cradle of the Protestant Reformation, Ratzinger is intimately familiar with Lutheranism -- all the more so as he is an expert on St. Augustine, whose theology has greatly influenced the thinking of Martin Luther, a former Augustinian monk.

Again like John Paul II, Ratzinger considers evangelization and fidelity of faith the church's top priority, especially in the light of the growth of Islam in Europe and particularly in Italy where it is estimated to be the predominant religion in as little as 20 years' time.

"In this situation, we need someone who is forthright in what the church teaches. We need consistency in our teaching, otherwise Muslims will not listen to us," Figueiredo insisted. "That's why Ratzinger is so important -- he will not flinch."

"This is a kairos for the Church -- a special moment in history," Figueiredo went on. Not everybody at the Vatican is convinced that Ratzinger will be the right man for that moment. Many Italian cardinals -- and even many North and South American princes of the Church -- would prefer to see an Italian as next bishop of Rome and leader of world Catholicism.

But among those who agreed with John Paul II, there are many who now favor Ratzinger. This is, said Figueirero, "because he is not afraid to speak the truth."

Seems like the previous popes ideals, a hardliner. Traditionalist. Also may have health problems....
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Originally Posted by Russ D

Ohhhhhhh dear......

Hes not too conservative. hes like john paul. After all you either belive in the bible or not

[Rob M]

Why Benedict if that's not his name

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by philip.j.fry

And an order for 500 pizzas, several thousand packets of crisps and a chocolate cake has been sent out

One chocolate cake? Need more than that..