While watching NBC's coverage at the Vatican today they were interviewing papal biographer George Weigle. His first observation upon the announcement of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI was two fold. First he is a humble pious man who spent much of his early priesthood as a scholar and professor. Ratzinger drafted some key documents during the meetings of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. Pope John Paul II brought him to Rome in 1981 where he became the leader of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He is a rigid defender of the faith, very conservative. Don't look for any changes in the course set by JPII.

Weigle made a second observation that Benedict XVI will almost certainly turn his attention to the "reconversion of Europe". I found this to be a very interesting observation. The church now has a German born pope. He will have his work cut out for him in addressing the spiritual malaise of Europe.

Earlier we had posted a comment by WNP European correspondent Paul Kieffer where he speculated on the possibility of Cardinal Ratzinger's election as pope. If you have not read it I suggest you do. It gives a cogent analysis of what to look for from this pope.