Joseph Ratzinger named new pope-- Benedict XVI

[scaeagles]

Do new popes just choose whatever name they want? Is there any rhyme or reason to it or just preference? Some sort of tradition? Could he have been Pope Eminem I if he wished?

[MickeyD]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Do new popes just choose whatever name they want? Is there any rhyme or reason to it or just preference? Some sort of tradition? Could he have been Pope Eminem I if he wished?

A friend of mine had expressed hope that the new pope would be Pope George Ringo, so that all four Beatles would be properly honored.

To answer your question....I *think* the name just has to be that of a saint, but most of them chose to honor previous pope.

Ok, I just looked it up. From religionfacts.com:

For centuries it has been customary for newly elected popes to take a new name. This began with the election of Pope John II in 533, whose birth name was Mercurius. Mercurius felt it would be wrong for a successor of St. Peter to bear the name of a pagan god (Mercury), so he changed his name to honor a previous pope. In 983, another pope took the name John XIV because his given name was Peter, and reverence for the first pope precluded his becoming Peter II. Some early non-Italian popes chose names that were easier for Italians to pronounce. Since the 10 th century, nearly all newly elected popes have taken new names.

In addition to practical considerations, the pope's new name symbolizes the new life he enters into upon assuming the throne. It also imitates the renaming of St. Peter (originally named Simon) by Jesus himself. The name chosen by a newly elected pope is usually that of a saint or an admired previous pope. Pope John Paul II, who was born Karol Józef Wojtyla ("voh-TEE-wah"), chose the name John Paul II to honor the previous pope, John Paul. John Paul I, whose pontificate lasted only 33 days before he died, had chosen his name in honor two previous popes, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Do new popes just choose whatever name they want? Is there any rhyme or reason to it or just preference? Some sort of tradition? Could he have been Pope Eminem I if he wished?

This had us laughing. An ongoing discussion in my office is about the name changes rappers do.

All hail Pope Eminem!!!!!!!

More seriously this has me concerned ".... silencing dissenting theologians, and stomping down heresy wherever it may rear its ugly head."

Silencing dissenting theologians, stomping down heresy. Because different opnions are a bad thing? Didn't Saddam silence dissenting opnions?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

All hail Pope George Ringo!!! I've given out too much mojo to mojo you, Deather!

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's things like this that have people worried:

Many blame Ratzinger for decrees from Rome barring Catholic priests from counseling pregnant teens on their options and blocking German Catholics from sharing communion with their Lutheran brethren at a joint gathering in 2003.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7560325/

It's one thing to not change underlying principals of the church with the times. It's another to ignore the humanity of your followers and to exclude your followers from amecable relations with people of different faiths. It's that kind of restrictive doctrine that people are afraid of.

[MickeyD]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's one thing to not change underlying principals of the church with the times. It's another to ignore the humanity of your followers and to exclude your followers from amecable relations with people of different faiths. It's that kind of restrictive doctrine that people are afraid of.

Yep, that's exactly it. I don't remember everything he's done that's made me roll my eyes and say, WTF? But some things do stick out in my mind. I remember that there was a nun somewhere in the Northeast US who was ministering to gay and lesbian Catholic and he ordered her to stop. Also, I remember a letter during the last presidential election that said something along the lines of American Catholics who do not vote pro life should not receive communion. It was amusing to me, because, according to the Catholic teaching on the consistent ethic of life, voting for GWB is also voting against life. So basically any Catholic who voted in the last election should not receive communion.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm just curious why all over the world the move seems to be towards the more dogmatic. As if the matters of God are ever revealed with that much clarity. Is this a response to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism?

I'd like to say that being an athiest, this does not impact me - but in some ways, I feel I may soon be under attack (if not already - "godless modern trends must be rejected").

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I'm just curious why all over the world the move seems to be towards the more dogmatic. As if the matters of God are ever revealed with that much clarity.

Exactly. So much of what people vehently demand to be adhered to is not the word of God (even assuming you believe the Bible is the word of God) but rather man's interpretation and tradition. I don't know much about Catholicism and papal doctrine, but I gather it's a lot like orthodox Judaism where many people look to the Talmud (an immense interpretation written by a conclave of Rabiis centuries ago) first and Torah second. I understand the aim of the Talmud, essentially following Talmudic law guarantees compliance with Torah as the Talmud erects a giant safety buffer to ensure that there's no way you're breaking God's word, however that quickly gets muddled into being the definitive word when it is anything but.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I'm just curious why all over the world the move seems to be towards the more dogmatic. As if the matters of God are ever revealed with that much clarity. Is this a response to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism?

I'd like to say that being an athiest, this does not impact me - but in some ways, I feel I may soon be under attack (if not already - "godless modern trends must be rejected").

Again, I'm quoting a friend, who would have responded to this better than I'll be able to:

"Since I'm not Catholic, I hesitated before giving my opinion. I think it's accurate to say, though, that the Pope is perceived by many to be a political leader, in addition to his role as leader of the Catholic Church. In that role, what he does affects me at least to some degree, so I offer my opinion for what it's worth for that reason only."

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I've been hesitant to post to this thread all day. I guess I'm still sorting out how I feel about all of this. In a way, I feel indifferent and yet, the events obviously have some significance. I think I'll just hit on a few points.

As far as the nazi past, I don't feel I know enough to condemn him, nor exonerate him. I'm hesitant to judge him for his decisions as I don't know what it was like to live under those circumstances. Besides, I think there are others things more worthy of focus, such as statements that he has made as a representative of the church. Some of those have been interesting

I have to say, I had no expectations of the next pope being more progressive. I didn't expect someone to be elected that was going to change the church's stance on homosexuality, birth control, abortion, etc, and I don't hold that against him necessarily. I don't like those stances but my dissatisfaction on those issues is with the church as a whole, not with the guy that was just elected today.

I think that where he has the potential to hurt the church the most is whether his views are divisive to the church as a whole. Many fear that there could be a split in the church or that a lot of people may become dissatisfied with the church and leave completely. I think that is a real possibility, although I am somewhat indifferent as to what the fallout is, if any.

There are a few things I would like to see happen with the new pope but I'm not optimistic. I would like to see him voice his strong disapproval of the war in Iraq, as the last pope did. I just like to see consistency in the pro-life message, something I would like to see our own leader consider.

I would like to see more attention paid to Africa and the death and suffering that is occurring there. The position of the church is hurting Africa more than it is helping.

I would like to see a forceful admonishment of those involved in the pedophilia that has run rampant in the church. The last pope was a disappointment in this regard. I would especially like to see a smackdown of Cardinal Bernard Law, who sickens me.

We'll just have to see how it goes, I suppose.