A new Pope

Our new Pope is Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. It's an interesting, but not at all unexpected choice. Ratzinger was JPII closest advisor. He's famous for his extremely orthodox viewpoints.

On the one hand, it seems positive because he's 78, and will do well to preserve the teachings of the church while we catch our breath after JPII and do some evaluation. On the other hand, it's a bit scary, because realistically, we could see things go back from where they are now.

For me personally, it is going to be a big challenge for the next while to just trust God. I can say for sure I will be praying that He will guide the new Pope. But I do believe the Holy Spirit is steering our Church, so I just have to have faith in that and not fear.

An interesting aside, in case you hear it elsewhere totally misinterpreted. Ratzinger was a member of the HJ (Hitler youth) in Nazi germany. He was conscripted into that and then the army. He was placed in an anti aircraft squadron and guarded a mercedes plant until he deserted in 1945 and became a POW with the Americans. The trolls and haters out there are using this to spout stuff like 'the Pope is a Nazi' etc. Don't worry, his parents were strongly anti nazi, and had to move around to avoid being captured. And he defected, an action punishable by death. He was quite certainly anti Nazi. The fact that he and JPII (A man who fought against Nazi occupation in Poland) were such close friends says a lot too. So there ya go, if someone fires that one at you you can shut em down.