[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

He will go down in history, as the most reactionary, ineffectual and out of touch Pontiff in recent history.

Debatable.

Benedict XVI Struggled under two handicaps. He was decidedly not a great communicator and he succeeded John Paul II, a rock star of a Pope who was one of the true movers and shakers on the planet during his time in St. Peter's chair.

Benedict XVI was most effective working out of the spotlight. Before his election to the papacy, then-Cardinal Ratzinger earned the nickname "God's Rottweiler", for the inexhaustible way he pursued his duties as Prefect of The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, after being appointed to that position by John Paul II. And though it can be argued that he didn't do enough, he DID do more than any of his predecessors not only in dealing with the sex scandals of the church but also in his efforts at cleaning up the Vatican Bank.

I think history will be far kinder to Pope Benedict XVI than his contemporaries are.

[BaylorBear]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

He will go down in history, as the most reactionary, ineffectual and out of touch Pontiff in recent history.

B.S.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

He will go down in history, as the most reactionary, ineffectual and out of touch Pontiff in recent history.

sadly, i agree. the last cool Pope was John-Paul. either way, RIP

[barnacle44]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I believe he was one of the good leaders of the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI - Wikipedia

The new Pope has been a much needed fresh breeze.

[The Chipster]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Definition of a "cult".

It is what the OTHER guy believes in.

"In modern English, cult is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal." Wikipedia

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by The Chipster

"In modern English, cult is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal." Wikipedia

‘Apr 30, 2022 — That means that 17.7% of the world's population is Catholic. Of this total, 48% are in the Americas, with 28% living in South America.’ Google

So, is Chipster implying that ALL of these people in N America are part of a cult?

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by barnacle44

The new Pope has been a much needed fresh breeze.

There are MANY who would be in total disagreement with such an assessment ... including myself

Fred

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by The Chipster

"In modern English, cult is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal." Wikipedia

Ummmm....OK....

[Keefelane66]

We missed Mass this week was there a special collection for Benedict?

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

He will go down in history, as the most reactionary, ineffectual and out of touch Pontiff in recent history.

You sure do not know anything of prior popes.