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Pope Benedict XVI will have large shoes to fill as he follows in the footsteps of John Paul II. And follow in them he will, as he has long been thought to be John Paul II's favorite to succeed him.
The name that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took upon being elected supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, has caused many to speculate on the form and shape his reign may take.
Benedict XV was the pope during World War I who sought to prevent the great conflict that plunged the 20th century into decades of turmoil. Will the new Benedict seek to use his office to reconcile the differing factions of our present age and prevent the emergence of another time of world conflict?
Or perhaps he chose the name in honor of St. Benedict, who in the sixth century was a major figure in the spread of Catholicism on the European continent. If so, his choice of the name may indicate that he sees defending Catholicism in Europe as a central part of his mission.
Time will tell which of these he has most in mind, or whether both play a role in his thinking. He has made public statements in support of both themes.
As a peacemaker, the 78-year-old pontiff has said he wants to continue "an open and sincere dialogue" with other religions and would devote himself to the ecumenical cause. And as a defender of the Christian faith in Europe, he has called for Europe to seek out and recover its Christian roots "if it truly wants to survive."
Balancing the two will be a challenge, especially in light of the fact that he was the prime force behind the 2000 document "Dominus Iesus" (Latin for "Jesus the Lord"), which angered Protestants, Jews, Muslims and other non-Christians who viewed with alarm its statement that the Roman Catholic Church is the only "instrument for the salvation of all humanity."
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