What do you think about Pope Benedicts Nazi background? Does that have any influence on his doctrine?

Question

He was part of the Nazi Youth! Do some homework before you start throwing stones. I'm not assuming anything.

I don't understand why some of you are getting angry with me? I am simply asking a question.

Answer 1

Pope Benedict & John Paul are 1/2 Jews .. Benedict Ratzinger is a yiddish name .. John Paul's mother was named Katz - but he was so honest - he kept that secret until his death. More than 10 Cardinals in the Catholic Church and countless Jesuits are Jewish - where do you think Vatican II came from - this rolled back 2000 years anti-jew policies, dogmas and morals. Benedict IS NOT A NAZI ..the conservative pre vatican II Catholic movement is well aware of this.

Answer 2

How could someone who grew up in Nazi Germany not be influenced by the experience?

Doctrine however, is another matter entirely.

No one, not even the Pope, has the ability to change authentic Catholic doctrine.

Benedict XVI has actually done a very fine job of clearly stating what Catholics have always believed, and known to be true, dating back to the earliest days of the church.

Answer 3

Joseph Ratzinger grew up in Nazi Germany, a totalitarian state. Membership in the Hitler youth was compulsory.

However, from what i've seen of his bio (including his tour in the German army), Ratzinger was no Nazi. I have no reason to believe that Naziism influenced his theology other than possibly in the negative, as Father K claims. (That is to say, any similarities between Pope Benedict and the Nazis--aside from their both being German and Christian--is pure coincidence, if you want to look at it that way. ;-)

Answer 4

Like many young German men of that time period, Joseph Ratzinger had little choice BUT to comply with the wishes of the Nazi government. How many teenagers would be willing to risk having family members taken away and killed just to avoid army duty? And how many really understood what was going on? The German people at that time were so low in morale from a cultural standpoint that any hope for a better future seemed better than nothing.

And for what it's worth, he defected from the Nazi military at the risk of his own life. Nothing dramatic; he just left his post one day and went back home.

Does this have any impact on his doctrine? I doubt it. This man is a scholar through and through, and a conservative one at that. He is a thinker and I would be surprised if he hasn't examined his own past and how it colors his opinions.

Answer 5

Did you know that in 1938 Time magazine named Hitler man of the year? How twisted is that? That has nothing to do with Pope Benedict but I thought it was interesting and wanted to share.

Answer 6

Yes! I also think it speaks volumes about the Catholic religion that someone with a Nazi background would be designated Pope.

It's KNOWN FACT that the current Pope has a Nazi background. However, it's hardly ever talked about since he's become Pope! Don't get snarky with the rest of the world just because you lack knowledge of current events!

Answer 7

Care to elaborate what Nazi Background you are referring to?

Do you think German youth were given an option about joining Hitler's (required) Hitler Youth Program? They were not. If your children didn't join you, and your family, and your children were taken away. Being a Hitler Youth child only meant that you were doing what was necessary to survive. I am not a papist, but I think we need to show a little sympathy for people who were sucked into Hitler's awful Reich.

Answer 8

He was only 12 when WWII began. He hardly had a choice about joining the Hitler Youth. It doesn't mean he believed what they taught

Answer 9

Of course it does. He saw the evil up-close and personal and knows who was behind it. And how to avoid the mistakes of the past.

His membership in the Hitler Youth was mandatory for all boys of his age, or his family could have been arrested or imprisoned.

Answer 10

Don't like the new Pope.
I miss Pope John Paul :-(