New Pope!

longmanshort · 20 April, 2005, 01:41:06 AM

Ah, it was Munich, not Berlin ...

Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, the son of a police officer who was staunchly anti-Nazi. In 1937 Ratzinger's father retired and settled in the town of Traunstein. When Ratzinger turned 14 in 1941, he was required by law to join the Hitler Youth , but according to his biographer John Allen he was not an enthusiastic member. In 1943, at the age of 16 he was, along with the rest of his class, drafted into the Flak or anti-aircraft corps, responsible for the guarding of a BMW plant outside Munich. He was then sent for basic infantry training and was posted to Hungary, where he worked setting up anti-tank defences until he deserted in April 1944 (an offence punishable by death). In 1945 he was briefly held in an Allied POW camp. By June he was released, and he and his brother (Georg) entered a Catholic seminary. On June 29, 1951, they were ordained by Cardinal Faulhaber of Munich. His dissertation (1953) was on Saint Augustine, his Habilitationsschrift (second dissertation) on Saint Bonaventure.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cardinal_Ratzinger" target="_blank">Wikipedia to the rescue!

longmanshort · 20 April, 2005, 01:43:58 AM

Hmmmm, regarding crazy theories about the whole Olives thing ... aside from the colour of his tan, he was also made titular bishop of Ostia in Itlay (they use olive oil! And probably have olive trees!) ...

The Amstor Computer · 20 April, 2005, 01:49:12 AM

Ah, probably not fair to hold that against him, then - and his current public positions on issues like contraception and liberation theology are more than enough reason to dislike him, anyway!

Bico · 20 April, 2005, 02:04:55 AM

I would have thought the fact he was a taig was reason enough to dislike him, actually.

Mike Carroll · 20 April, 2005, 02:13:37 AM

Hey! How come - in all these Pope threads - no one has mentioned the old "Pope George-Ringo" joke yet? Or did I just miss it?

Mike

Adrian Bamforth · 20 April, 2005, 02:50:20 AM

I hope he's as liberal as the last one.

ADE

http://www.the-head-shop.co.uk/images/newtin17.jpg">

pauljholden · 20 April, 2005, 03:04:10 AM

Prof Bear said:
"I would have thought the fact he was a taig was reason enough to dislike him, actually."

The popes a catholic????

Mind you, I'm disinclined to believe someone who relieves himself in the woods...

Byron Virgo · 20 April, 2005, 03:04:56 AM

How do we know that this is going t be the real Pope?

This could all just be some elaborate deception - remember all those impersonators Saddam Hussein employed?

The Amstor Computer · 20 April, 2005, 03:31:37 AM

What, the impersonators who've not turned up at any point in the two years since the end of the war? Bit like the infamous "people-shredder" that we were told about, innit?

Noisybast · 20 April, 2005, 03:37:32 AM

He's come a long way since Cheers...

http://www.enzogiobbe.com/celebs/John_Ratzenberger.jpg">

shazhughes · 20 April, 2005, 04:11:30 AM

Wasnt he in the Hitler Youth?

The Amstor Computer · 20 April, 2005, 04:17:38 AM

***/ me wonders if he's been killfiled***

Conexus · 20 April, 2005, 04:19:41 AM

Why would Shaz have killfiled Lms?

Richmond Clements · 20 April, 2005, 04:22:06 AM

Wasn't he in Hitler youth?

shazhughes · 20 April, 2005, 04:26:35 AM

see that someone had already mentioned it