"Longtime admirer" does sound overstated. Nevertheless, it is possible to admire certain opinions of a person, while vehemently disagreeing with others. I'm sure he doesn't admire Luther for leaving the Church.
Here's the thing. There is a notion out there (one that I bought for a long time) that Martin Luther was a well intentioned, but misguided soul. However, when you read up on the man, especially his own words, you discover that he had no intention of "reforming", he was a rebel and a heretic with a vehement hatred for the Church (and I'm not trying to be inflamatory with my language...he was a baptized and confirmed Catholic who rejected the teaching of the Church and went as far as calling for the murder of all Catholic priests).
Now someone can be in error in one regard and not another, but I for one cannot find one thing in Luther's theology that is impressive. Maybe there is something, but I haven't encounter it, myself.
I think that the paper mistook an admiration for certain Lutherans (like Bonhoeffer) for an admiration of Martin Luther.
Well gentlemen,
I had a nice e-mail exchange with a priest (with definite credibility on the subject) who has enlightened me as to how it is not inconceivable that the Holy Father could admire Luther (in a restricted sense). Apparently, before his fall, Luther was a well-respected theologian and exegete with a brilliant mind. It would be THAT Luther that the pope could (and likely would) admire.
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