Pope Benedict

I am not Roman Catholic. I admired much about the late Pope, but deplored much more about his reign. I regarded his tenure as having set back the cause of Christianity in the world in much the same way I regard George W. Bush's presidency as having set back the hope that out nation might be a force for peace and human hope.

I had allowed myself to hope, much as I hoped vainly for an end to the strident policies of Bush's first term as he began his second term, that the Cardinals might elect a Pope who would speak the passionate love of God that overturns the world's lust for power.

I had only one Cardinal inmind who would be the worst choice.

He was just elected Pope. He has chosen the name Benedict. Cardinal Ratzinger, the German who has been most associated with guarding the church against an dissent or even difference, has been chosen Pope.

I feel as downcast as I did when President Bush named his new appointments to the UN and the World Bank, and renominated to the Federal Bench the judges rejected last term as too radically right wing.

I will be sustained by the hope that events will require all these ideologues to adapt to reality. It is a meager hope.