First, she speaks of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict's predecessor. She misses him and how he was the perfect image for the television age.
She writes,
Think of the pictures of him storm-tossed, tempest-tossed, standing
somewhere and leaning into a heavy wind, his robes whipping behind him,
holding
on to his crosier, the staff bearing the image of a crucified
Christ, with both
hands, for dear life, as if consciously giving Christians
a picture of what it
is to be alive.
Pope John Paul II was a charismatic, Cold Warrior. He knew how to work the crowds and the Catholic faithful still miss him.
Extolling the virtues of his predecessor, Pope Benedict says,
Among his many human and supernatural qualities he had an exceptional spiritual
and mystical sensitivity.
Pope Benedict might not be as charismatic as Pope John Paul II was, but he is the philosopher and the thinker. His theological reasoning is deep and requires thought.
He also has no tolerance for the violent version of Islam that is plaguing the World. In a previous speech he said,
The right use of reason is not pleased by blood...not acting reasonably is
contrary to God's nature.
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