Joseph Ratzinger

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder described Ratzinger's election as a "great honor for Germany" and said that he would be a "worthy successor" to Pope John Paul II, who died April 2. Among the vast outpourings of praise from other nations, Israel expressed the fervent hope that the new pope would forge closer links between Jews and Catholics.

But amid the mix of unreserved delight and guarded optimism, there was also dismay at the not-unexpected election of a conservative pope who would be likely to continue the Catholic Church's more controversial policies and not display more openness toward women.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 23, 2005
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