Is there not an element of ethnic stereotype in all of this? The mean, joyless, one dimensional German is going to carry out his vision of a Catholic reich...
Jason | 04.20.05 - 1:10 pm | #

French and Germans may be stereotyped as much as possible in American culture with impunity. That's just good clean fun. Only designated victim groups are tragic victims of ethnic stereotyping.
Mark Shea | 04.20.05 - 1:17 pm | #

The Holy Spirit should really learn to check with these propel before he inspires the next papal selection! Doesn't He know how important they think they are?
John Hearn | 04.20.05 - 1:37 pm | #

that's people...
John Hearn | 04.20.05 - 1:37 pm | #

Here is where a childhood spenT in a German Catholic environment proves useful. German culture is far more than cool uniforms, goosestepping and beer- not that anything is wrong with the third item. It draws as much from an Ideal Black Forest as any image. As our new Pontiff- fond of Mozart and walks in the woods. And a wonderful term difficult to translate into English, winding up something like 'good vibes-' Gemuchlikeit. My paternal grandfather, the son of an immigrant, had it to the max- hard core of beliefs (walked away from a printer's job at the height of the Depression, with a wife and five kids to feed, because he didn't like the items being printed- probably considered off-color these days, not hardcore porn), the brother and father of priests both named Henry. But a jolly soul to his grandchildren. I get the same impression of Bendictus Magnus. No doubt he and Grandpop would enjoy a few steins and practice some good ol' fashioned Gemuchlekeit.
Gerard E. | 04.20.05 - 2:42 pm | #

As far as revising opinion and warming up to Benedict when he fails to conform to the absurd caricature that has been made of him, I don't expect it from the media.

But I have great hope that Catholics and all people of good faith who have allowed that caricature to enter their minds, will indeed warm up to him, when he turns out not to be a "kneecapper" (my favorite slander that I heard repeated over and over last night in the cable news bolgias).
John Heavrin | 04.20.05 - 3:43 pm | #

Gerard:

I hate to play the pedant but I think you mean 'Gemuetlichkeit'. Actually there should be an umlaut above the 'u' but I can't do that on my keyboard.
Gerry O' Neil | 04.20.05 - 4:16 pm | #

They didn't expect the German Inquisition!
Will | Homepage | 04.20.05 - 8:24 pm | #

Certain left-wing Catholics and others can smear my German ethnicity all they want. I am proud to be related to Charlemagne, Albert the Great, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Albert Schweitzer, Hildegard of Bingen, ... oh, all right, I'll stop!

I've been a U.S. Citizen for many years and love this country, but my Bavarian birthplace will always be rooted deeply in my heart.

Bavaria is unique on the German landscapes with its beautiful forests, meadows and farther south, where the Holy Father comes from, its Alpine regions.

Having a history rooted in Celtic and Roman cultures (my small hometown still boasts many fine buildings built in the Roman era) which never penetrated the German North has made Bavaria somewhat different from the Northern Germans.

I relate very deeply to the Holy Father's love of music, nature, and long walks. It's something I did myself upon return visits at a time when the only thing you heard on the Bavarian landscape on Sunday mornings was the ringing of Church bells.

I think the entire world is going to be very surprised by Benedict XVI.
Christine | 04.21.05 - 1:50 pm | #

My husband's Palatine-born father (himself the son of a village cosntable like Pope Benedict's) would have insisted that we identify the new Holy Father as "Bavarian" rather than "German." To him, the later should only be applied to the hated Prussians.
But speaking of surprising receptions of Pope Benedict, I was a little apprehensive about having to defend him to a gay friend. Turns out the gay friend had a favorable impression, just from Pope Benedict's shy smile, and knew the Nazi charges were a smear. He and his lover were searching the web for information about him so I suggested an appropriate Catholic site. Maybe some dialogue will result.
Sandra Miesel | 04.21.05 - 10:07 pm | #

Your last point is the one that has most gotten my attention the last few days, Mark. When the media are proved wrong, they simply chalk up the difference between their caricature and the actual man as some kind of political "shift to the center." Already that brainless theory is being floated everywhere.
Sage | 04.25.05 - 3:53 pm | #