New Pope - Media Obsesses

Joe Ratzinger is the new Catholic Pope, although he changed his name as is the papal tradition.

I wonder why the media cares so much about a new Catholic Pope? Is it just the western media? How about Al Jazeera for example? How about the media in India?

Let's be serious: most people are not Christian. Not to mention that most Christians are not Catholic!

Could it be the immense popularity of Pope John Paul II?? I am one of his fans! Although I certainly didn't agree with him always, and find the Catholic notion that the Pope speaks directly to God to be silly and bordering on childish and insulting ("hey dude, my religious leader talks to god and your's doesn't").

But I, like many non Catholics, was a fan of Pope John Paul II. Simply because he was a great human being. Yes, I considered him a Holy Man (as an Orthodox Christian, we officially consider him a Bishop, equal to any other Bishop, although "First among Equals").

With the Catholic Church perhaps at an all time low (certainly in the US), with Catholic Churches closing, Catholic priests going to jail for decades of raping children with apparently the official Church "looking the other way," a shortage of Catholic Priests, and a somewhat widespread belief that most Catholic Priests are gay (at least in the gay community - got any male gay friends? Ask them), the new Pope has his work cut out for him.

I wish him well!

Did I ever mention I once met the Coptic Pope?? He was very cool.

OK, no more religion unless the Orthodox Patriarch dies. He not only looks like he could take out most NFL Quarterbacks, but with his Darth Vader like dress looks like he could scare them out of his way! As we say in Greek, may he make 100 (years).