BERLIN (Reuters) - Feeling frustrated because you can't remember where you left something? Don't worry: even the Pope loses things sometimes.

The new Pope Benedict's elder brother, Georg Ratzinger, 81, told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday that the pontiff's main weakness was his forgetfulness.

"He sometimes misplaces things, and all of a sudden doesn't know where his watch, his keys or a specific paper are anymore," the paper quoted Ratzinger as saying.

What does Georg value most in his sibling, who is 78?

"His clarity of thought", his patience and "that we help each other out," Bild am Sonntag quoted him as saying.

Georg Ratzinger, who is a priest, has previously been quoted as saying his brother might be too old for his new job.

He attended Sunday's inaugural papal Mass by the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger but said he had not brought a gift for a man who had everything.

He said he planned to ask his brother for just one thing - "His direct telephone number".
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Hmm... this new pope just doesn't look good... first hes a Nazi, hes ultra conservative and he forgets a lot of things. Nice pick!

He IS not a Nazi

Seriously, he was put in the nazi Youth Program and he got out HIMSELF.

Seriously, who cares if he was a nazi? A lot of people were.

Nazism and Catholicism have at least one thing in common: they both had/have dreams of grandure, self importance, and world domination. Just their methods are different. IMO

Wow such hate you have against others.

hate? no. i am completely indifferent to the RC church. (other than the few laughs it provides from time to time.) Look at the history of the RC church and compare it to the history of Nazi Germany (and to be fair you can throw in a few other tyranical organizations of your choosing as well).

i couldn't be bothered to waste energy hating anything or anyone. It just is not worth it. I will however point out what needs to be pointed out. People need a poke every now and again to snap them out of their trances.

Have you heard of a non-conservative pope/priest/cardinal? These people are so dedicated to their God, that they won't be lured out. So, in a popes case, how is ultra conservative a downfall? (and yes, I know your being sarcastic, "nice pick")

And how can I tell that you feel the same way?

And since when was Christianity about self-importance when the parables clearly teach morals of loving, caring and the other good virtues?

Tell me when did Catholics have the intention to take over the world.

In a trance from what? Whats trancing them and why? Your not being specific.

Now and again you meen every thread right? At least that seems to be the pattern.

i am talking solely about the RC church here, not all of christianity.

whatever the parables of the bible were (or are - depending on how many revisions you accept) have nothing to do with the doctorine of the church itself. It may use the bible, but so have so many others used it as a tool of control.

Have you read the history of the RC church? It is driven to take over the world, in a theological sense. Everything it does is based on gaining more RC'ers.

(funny thing though, I know an ex-RCer. He perfers to refer to himself as a recovering cathoholic. He says RCers are like alcoholics, everybody else can only stand them once they "get on the wagon")



some people find the way on their own, some need a little guidance, some get their with training and determination, and yet others "you coun't lure them from a burning building to save their lives, so stubborn they are".

I tend to think it should be obvious to everyone that he was just put in to be a transitional pope. Basically like "Who's the oldest guy in here? Okay... he's the next pope." After such a long-standing and popular pope, it wouldn't be wise to start another impressive reign.

This guy is the lemon sorbet between dishes.

Funny... going on about his forgetfullness and then someone compliments him on his 'clarity of thought.' Gee.

Take control of what? Control of the world?
Yes, I do know the history of the Roman Catholic Church. And I also know the history of Japan. They were an imperialist country and wanted to take over the world with Germany. Now i'm buying their products, quite a change. Goes to show you that people change.

Thats nice, and I don't blame 'em.

as the state church, they certianly did want absolute control of their world.

control comes in many forms. today, with democracies, numbers equals power. The church can push its mandates outside of the church via the voices of its followers. If given the chance (as with any human created dynamic entities) it would grow to the point where it would crush everything else, and ultimately crush itself.

Yes, with power, every authority wants full control. But the control comes from the high executive of the authority, or head of the power(in this case, the pope). I do not think the pope is nesassarily interested in taking full control.

I can't say that so early with Pope Benedict XVI, because I don't want to completely trust former Hitler Youths just yet. But in Pope John Paul II's reign, he had no interest in world domination except world peace, prosperity and forgiveness.

Ratzinger is a fitting figurehead for an ultra-conservative and uninspiring institution ...a former hitler youth who DID wear the Nazi uniform? I'm not surprised this church would choose such a man...desparate times ahead.

Good observation ...I think you are right. So whos next on the list...any idea? I bet it is an American. Jesuit?

Why not? Isn't the Church all about giving second chances? I have faith in the competency of the cardinals to choose a good pope, even if he is a transitional one.

If I'm not mistaken (which i usually am) I dont think it even mentions the word "Pope" in the Bible.

It doesn't mention many of the things they do. As for him being in the Nazi youth, his parents I belive were the ones who put him in there. You people sound like the kids had a choice, it was join the Nazi Youth or be expelled or jailed.

What about him serving in the Nazi Army as a trained anti-aircraft gunner? Then becoming an American POW. That is more then the Nazi Youth, he served in the Nazi Army. It doesn't matter if he magically changed his views, the past is there. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all go back in time and fix our mistakes, to bad we CAN'T!

^--Yes, that is true Paper Tiger.--^


And however ultra-conservative(as meant by 'refusing to let go of his own faith', never thought that was a bad thing), Pope Benedict XVI(or Joseph Ratzinger) was drafted into the German Army and deserted it. As stated by Kratos, he eventually ended up in an American POW camp. According to the biography, he was briefly interned to the camp. If you think he was Pro-German, I would like to see a biography stating otherwise.

Link

By means of being 'Ultra-Conservative', give me one reason why a Pope should refuse his faith. Keeping his faith is what makes a pope a pope.

but those were the times....

we don't know the whys as to his serving in the Nazi army. If he was one of the minority of the nazis that actually commited atrocities of their own liking above and beyond what they were ordered to I doubt he would have even accepted being considered to be pope (given the national exposure would surely bring out someone who recognized his face).

if you had a choice given to you of "serve for someone you oppose", or "die or be imprisoned/tortured for not serving" what would you do? (not aimed at kratos personally, but just something for everyone to think about)

We all like to think we know what we would do, but until we are in that situation we tend to be very bad at estimating how we will act. Situational variables are too easily forgotten about.

He is not a nazi and never was. When he was young he was made to be part of the Nazi Youth Group and all because he wasn't old enough to join the Hitler Army. Young boys were made to join the youth orginization to prepare them to kill and fight. He had no choice. He was born a German and grew up in Germany.

My grandfather did not have the choice either.

He had to fight, or God knows what the Nazi's would have done to him.

I never had any objection to the Pope's past. (I wasnt pointing the finger at him.)

I was just saying I didnt think the Bible mentions anything of a Pope.

Besides the fact that this was over 60 years ago! 60 years people. I did a lot of things 10 years ago that I would never dream of doing now.

Good grief.

POPES SHOULDNT EXIST!!!! amalgumut is right... the fact there is a pope, or cardinals or any "religious" leader is wrong... in the bible it does not mention any of that... i believe it does say that all men are equal in the eyes of God... and the fact that the cardinals, popes, bishops, etc... are held in such high regard is a good example on how man is using the word of God to give themselves power... and i believe that calling the pope or any other leader of a church "father" is almost the same thing as having another God all together.... Only GOD is the Father.... everyone else are BROTHERS and SISTERS...

I am not sure where the verse is but that is what the Bible says.

thank u zandore... i know that having another god is one of the commandments, but i dont know where it says that about the leaders of the church...

I will be seeing my Pastor friend later and will ask him where that verse is for you OK? So you can have a look for yourself.

okey dokey... thanx... very appreciated...

No problem

Yes that is what I meant to say.

zandore, u crack me up sometimes.

Why would I do something like that?

hahahaha

It would be funny if his brother came out and said "Sorry guys, I'm the one who forgets things not him. I keep forgetting that"

WHAT???

This could be the Church of Laodicea, that Revelations 3:14-19 talks about.

This church (or people from it, however some will be caught up) will not be taken up in the Rapture. They will be left behind to face Tribulation.

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17)

I am not religious at all. Spiritual, yes. And I do consider myself a Christian... but NOT religious.

Even without caring one way or another about the pope, I cringe every time they call the Pope "The Holy Father."

I know what you mean, or when I went to an Orthodox chruch you had to kiss some images and a cross.

Thats weird.

Remind me not to go there!

lots and lots of kissing going on! (and not just the literal type )

Well, it is proven, the bible does state that we are not to call anyone, but God, FATHER..

Haha, I don't even call my father "father."

So, I wouldn't call anyone else but God by that name.

I think he meant "Holy Father".

Yeah I know, I was just trying to make a joke.

I guess thats why I'm not a comedian.

OOP's Sometimes I don't get a joke.