Monday, May 09, 2005
BENEDICT XVI CONTRASTED TO JOHN PAUL II
at the Jamaica Observer.
The contrasts are striking as this reporter sees them, including:
"He has not had too much contact with people. He was a bishop for a short time, but was not very successful."
Weisner said the pope's Bavarian background as well as his own bookish nature would make him more reserved and less effusive than John Paul II.
"He is much more intellectual and very modern," Weisner said.
Theologians at the Jesuit-run Gregorian University in Rome said that even judging from the experience of a day, the new pope was clearly different from the pontiff for whom he had worked for the past two decades.
They noted that his homily during his first mass for the cardinals who elected him at a secret conclave was theologically sound and solidly based on Christ's teaching.
John Paul II always placed more emphasis on Mary, the mother of Christ, posing a problem for Protestant and Anglican churches who do not accord her the same cosmic importance as the Catholics.
It would be remiss to fail to note that this same concentration on a woman--specifically Sophia--is typical of occultism. It would be remiss to fail to note that Soloviev, of whom John Paul II spoke highly, concentrated on visions of Sophia. It would also be remiss of me not to affirm that Marian devotion is prominent in Catholic theology, as the article indicates. The key, of course, is to maintain a focus through the eyes of the Blessed Virgin to the Person of Jesus Christ, to Whom she will always direct us, unlike Sophia who will draw our attention to herself.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
