"Papa Ratzi" - Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th Pontiff

Just flipped on the TV and I'm astounded by the news that the conclave has ended and the cardinals have elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany to succeed the late Pope John Paul II. He will take the name of Benedict XVI.

There are mixed reactions to his appointment as the new Pope. First, his age. He's 78 and may not have a long papacy. Some view him as a hardline conservative, which dismays Catholics who want to see a change in the Roman Catholic Church. He's been known as "the enforcer", an unlikeable tough guy who held up the Church's doctrines firmly. He just may be the George W. Bush of the Vatican.

Personally, I have no opinion. I can understand why some people don't like Pope Benedict XVI. He doesn't seem to have the same charisma Pope John Paul II did. The late Pope had such an amiable personality that was able to transcend boundaries and heal differences. He was a pontiff who reached out to other faiths and countries. This man was just magic. He was a living saint.

As for Pope Benedict XVI, time will tell how he will warm up to the rest of the world.