When he was a seminarian in Germany, young Joseph Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth. This statement is slightly different than the statement he made to a journalist in 1997, "As a seminarian, I was registered in the Hitler Youth." (I quote today's The New York Times article by Rachel Donadio that appears on page A6, "Pope's Wartime Activities Resurface on Israeli Trip.")
As he put it, one could think that registration was something that happened to Joseph Ratzinger, who may not have had much say in the matter, if all seminarians were so registered as part of their priestly training. Who knows? In 1997, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger remarked on his membership in a way that made the morality relative to the times, for those who parse the shadows for motivation. If I were to say, "I joined the Hitler Youth," then you might assume that I had some say in the matter. If I say instead, "I was registered in the Hitler Youth," you do not know my part in it.
I actually believe that the pope is a decent fellow, and as qualified as any to fill the shoes of the fisherman. He is learned. He grew up in troubled times. Beyond that, I do not know the man at all. What I can tell you, however, is that he may be pope precisely because he is flawed and human, and has so much to learn, cast off, and even forgive himself for.
The humbleness of a pope and not the words of spokesmen or public relations managers is what matters because that is what remains, after misunderstandings, anger, and apologies are made. It is humility this man may be learning, for his own sake.
I have long believed that people are led to a religious life as pastors, priests, and church leaders not because they are so good at what they do but because having set their sights in a holy line of work, they accept the long road in present life that becomes a quick march to salvation or damnation, gifts and attainments notwithstanding, because every breath is taken in the present tense of the imperative to see Christ and to be so led at every step. It is personal, but people are watching.
One must also have the guts for the job. Standing on the banks of the River Donau in Regensburg three years ago, I watched traffic on the river and adjacent highway from a point next to a piece of the old city wall that was in disrepair. It looked like it had been bombed in WWII, I believe, and although I do not know this for a fact, I think the repairs were never made as a reminder to anyone who looked that war is hell. War is no time to be passive when confronting faith, and I believe that when asked about it later, a humble person will speak plainly.
It looks like enrollment was compulsory, but that his family was solidly anti-Nazi. In other words, the passive voice was merited. http://bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/new_pope_defied_nazis.htm
However, your larger point was well taken.
Posted by: Moretta | May 13, 2009 at 05:40 PM