Local Catholic leaders view newly elected Pope Benedict XVI as a pope who will pick up where the late Pope John Paul II left off.
Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, was introduced April 19 as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church after the College of Cardinals selected him on their fourth ballot.
Before being elected pope, Benedict XVI, 78, was the prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, serving as John Paul II’s chief theological advisor.
Sr. Joan May, parish administrator at St. Mark Catholic Church, 7296 S. Gale Road, Goodrich, said she agrees with those observers who see Benedict XVI as a transitional pope.
‘Pope John Paul II was quite ill the past few years, so we’ll have a transitional one to pick up the slack,? she said.
John Paul II was regarded for his travels throughout the world, including a 1987 visit to the Detroit area, and for reaching out to leaders of other religions.
May said the new pope’s biggest task is ‘probably to continue on with what Pope John Paul II started, as far as being a pope for the people, and reaching out to all of us to be better Catholics and Christians.?
Fr. Bernard Mullen, pastor at St. Anne Catholic Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road, Ortonville, said the relatively quick election of Benedict XVI mirrored that of John Paul II in 1978. Mullen recalled John Paul II, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Poland, was elected around the fourth or fifth ballot.
‘I was impressed that it only took them four ballots (to elect Benedict XVI),? Mullen said.
Like May, Mullen views Benedict XVI as a pope who will carry on the teachings of John Paul II.
‘I’d say they had that in mind ? it would be a continuation of the policies of the previous pope,? he said.
Benedict XVI comes to power at a time where Catholics hold differing opinions on church teachings, such as homosexuality, the role of women in the church, and disagreement about whether priests should be allowed to be married.
Mullen said he hopes Benedict XVI will reach out to people of differing viewpoints and work toward greater unity within the church.
‘One of his tasks will be to try and establish a mode of listening rather than directing, as far as listening to the Catholic community and the voices coming from within the church,? he said.