Habemus Papam

[Aistulf]

I hoped for Ratzinger to be chosen, as the rest of the candidates seemed horrible to me. So this is quite good, I'd say.

[etoile noir]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

What are you talking about?
Benedictus XVI's election shows a compromise by the Church for regeneration and against whatever the media may have to say.. or have already said about Cardinal Ratzinger already in the past.

Exactly the opposite to what you are saying here.

Really? apoligies. you're right and i'm wrong. so sue me.

Really? Ratzinger was the unpopular candidate on the media. Haven't you noticed?

no i hadn't noticed. he was one of the papabili, as far as i know.

Elected on the 4th conclave points to a very short period election. If they had wanted to feed the media they would have done exactly the opposite. And they would have elected a more "colourful" Pope too.

understood and agreed.

Terrible things to do..

indeed. they really should have invited a crowd of born again, happy clappy christians to liven things up a bit shouldn't they?

I won't tell where I would expect to read such words.
ditto.

please do for i have no idea whatsoever. thanks.

Did you by any chance read what I wrote about the Catholich Church not being predestinationist, from where you can imagine the importance in how Cardinals choose the Pope (assuming that they take the prophecies anything seriously)?

no i didn't read your post. please don't flatter yourself too much Mynydd. i don't go around the forum specifically looking for your posts. if it is a forum requirement, please let me know and i shall try to do so.

[Phlegethon]

Originally Posted by Dr. Solar Wolff

Question: Was it possible to be involuntarily inducted into the Hitler Youth?

Not just possible. It was the norm.

[Phlegethon]

Originally Posted by Manji

Well, I hope he does at least one thing equal to John Paul II: learns almost all european languages.

Actually he already speaks more languages than him. He is also one of the very few in the Vatican who colloquially speaks Latin.

[Phlegethon]

Originally Posted by Manji

I was under the impression that the vast majority of germans were protestants, not catholics.

Even after reunification Catholics still are a majority. About a third of the population is without confession though, which of course does not keep them from enjoying institutions of the churches like schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and cemeteries.

[Ederico]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

Even after reunification Catholics still are a majority. About a third of the population is without confession though, which of course does not keep them from enjoying institutions of the churches like schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and cemeteries.

And what about if you add Austria in the question?

[Phlegethon]

Then the majority gets even bigger.

Austria:
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 0.1%, none 17.4%

Germany:
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

[Zrinski]

What about data for Bavaria only? I take it that it's the most German Catholic region.

[Phlegethon]

Only 58% of the Bavarian population (which includes a lot of foreigners, obviously) are Catholics. The most Catholic state (percentage-wise) is the Saarland (65,7%). Numbers are from 2003.

Of course like everywhere else it is a rural/metropolitan divide. The countryside in Bavaria is almost exclusively Catholic while the cities often are predominantly Protestant.

[Phlegethon]

My state is 43.4% Catholic, by the way, opposed to 28.7% Protestants.

[Zrinski]

Interesting...I always thought Bavaria is by far most Catholic region in Germany.

[Phlegethon]

That's all propaganda.

[Gil]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

Then the majority gets even bigger.

Austria:
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 0.1%, none 17.4%

Germany:
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

What? 4.7% Muslims in Austria and 3.7% Muslims in Germany??? Truly, this is one of those WTF!!! moments. What up with those figures? Are those percentages (muslims) from turkish immigrants?

[Phlegethon]

Turks, Lebanese, Moroccans, Tunisians, Algerians and a constantly rising number of European converts.

[Ederico]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

a constantly rising number of European converts.

They should be deported with the non-European Muslims.

[Gil]

Ederico....so, if one is a European but not a Christian, does that mean one must be expelled? Or would this only apply to converts to Islam?