Pray For Poor, Tragic, Weak Benedict

Your observations over the past few days about Pope Benedict XVI and his leadership skills are well stated, but I wonder if you overlook two things.

You reap what you sow. This old saying takes on special meaning when Americans and Brits view any modern German in a prominent position. Why? Since the conclusion of World War II, the Allies have made a special effort to eliminate from public service any German who would not do the bidding of the conquerors. That effort continues to this day, although the Military Occupation of Germany is now done under the NATO banner. Any leader who would espouse Tradition is derailed from rising in the ranks and shunted aside in his career. That effort includes all aspects of German life, both secular and religious. The formation of Church leadership was not exempt from the “guidance” of the USA and Great Britain, and that has yielded its fruits with the likes of Walter Kasper, Reinhard Marx, and of course, Joseph Ratzinger. They bend to the whims of the Elite and the Times, but Benedict to his credit has misgivings as to what has happened to the Church. Americans and Brits are hypocritical when we criticize German Leaders, religious or lay, if they appear weak because that is what we want them to be. Subservience is expected of vassals!

The other element to keep in mind is personal safety. Benedict XVI is very much a prisoner of the Vatican and he needs to maintain a low profile. Prudence requires that. After all, didn’t a cousin of the late Archbishop Marcinkus publish a book last year in which he claims to have been part of the team that poisoned Pope John Paul I? Benedict is aware of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of JPI and although he is advanced in years, he probably does not want to speed his demise.