CNN: Pope Benedict XVI 'prayed not to be elected'

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/25/pope.monday/index.html

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI is reported to have said he prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected pope but that "evidently this time He didn't listen to me."

Benedict made the comments, reported by The Associated Press, at an audience Monday with German pilgrims, who enthusiastically greeted the first German pope in centuries.

A smiling Benedict shook the pilgrims' hands and blessed a child given to him before taking his seat in the audience hall and starting his speech.

Speaking in his native German, Benedict told the audience that during the conclave, or papal election, when it became clear he was getting many votes, a cardinal passed him a note reminding him what he had preached about Christ calling Peter to follow him even if he was reluctant to go. Benedict, 78, said he hoped to spend his last years living quietly and peacefully. "At a certain point, I prayed to God 'please don't do this to me,"' he recalled. "Evidently, this time He didn't listen to me."

[Atman]

1. If this "god" guy won't listen to a Cardinal, what's the point?

Oh, right...we'll be told he was "selected" because of his special qualities. There's always an answer!

[CO Liberal]

2. Along With Millions of Others

He's possibly the worst possible choice the cardinals could have made.

[mmonk]

3. I wish his prayers had been answered

[ReadTomPaine]

4. So then why did he accept the Papacy? Why doesn't he resign?

Oh that's right, because he's lying. If he wanted to be god's humble servant, he wouldn't have become a Cardinal.

RTP

[Atlas Mugged]

5. It didn't occur to him to tell the other CARDINALS about this???

Some leader he's gonna' be.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Lindacooks]

8. Not true.

Bush* has no problem with being a fake leader. Remember, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Lindacooks]

16. That's right!!

Anybody who helped cover up the priest pedophile scandal is corrupt, and IS NOT to be respected.

[Atman]

27. You're correct, juryrigged. Even if you were being sarcastic.

You seem to think Ratzinger deserves respect "just because." Just because he is the pope. So what? The pope is a man, and this particular man has a terrible past, and even appears to have connections with the Bush Family Evil Empire.

You earn respect, jury. It doesn't come on a whiff of black smoke.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

9. Welcome to DU. Here's some posting etiquette for you.

Hi, I'm the guy that posted the CNN excerpt.

WITHOUT COMMENT. So people could read it, decide what the article meant to them, and comment if they chose to do so.

You replied to the original post. You replied to ME. So I respect your right to say "I see nothing here to insult my Pope about," but when you reply to ME, you imply that I insulted "your" Pope. As a Catholic, he's "MY" Pope too.

If you think someone in this thread insulted "your" Pope, reply to that person.

Otherwise, anticipate many, many posters on DU calling you out on the carpet.

Have a nice day.

[Heidi]

14. Welcome to DU, juryrigged.

These religion threads get everybody going, including myself. (He's not my pope, as I'm not Catholic, but when I read the article, I sort of thought Ratzinger was engaging in a sort of self-deprecating humor.)

[Stuckinthebush]

24. Because it is clearly BS

If he really didn't want the job, then he takes himself out of the running. It was clear that he was the front runner from the start, and that he had Cardinals lobbying for him. We'd be fools to think that the Vatican doesn't have internal politics, with the election of the Pope being the most intense.

Ratz is trying to make himself look humble, and the "gosh, really, me?" line doesn't fit on this very political new Pope.

[KC21304]

25. He's my Pope too, but he is not telling the truth.

There is too much evidence to the contrary. He has been campaigning for this job for many years.

[Benhurst]

7. It looks like God didn't hear him. NT

[GreenArrow]

10. Sure he did...

Right...just a humble farmer toiling in God's fields.

His ambition was nothing less than transparent.

[thinkingwoman]

12. sure he did

whatever. :eyes:

[Deja Q]

13. Then Pope Benedict Arnold XVI can step down. But, if God didn't listen

then XVI won't listen to reason and continue spouting his nonsense.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. Where's my lightening bolt

because this guy is full of shit.

[newportdadde]

17. False Modesty

[GreenArrow]

22. you bet

Upon being elected, he referred to himself as "a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard." False modesty indeed. If you're really modest, you don't need to trumpet it.

[Dawgs]

18. I thought I heard he was planning on retiring as a Cardinal...

or at least taking a step back(I know you can't retire). He told this to one of his friends.

[Dawgs]

19. I agree with some here...

If he didn't want this, then why didn't he tell anyone?

[Ilsa]

20. Two words occurred to me reading this headline:

"bull shit". Or is that one word?

[zanne]

21. Funny; I was praying for the same thing. n/t

[Toucano]

23. Give me a fucking break! n/t

[meg]

26. Yes, sure, and my ass is made out of peanut brittle

He's been going to the Karl Rove school of propaganda.