God's Rottweiler
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – nicknamed 'God's Rottweiler' during a long tenure as the late pope's guardian of Catholic doctrine – is a polarising influence on the pre-conclave negotiations, Italian newspapers have reports. [Source]
Wow, Cardinal Ratzinger's nicknames just don't stop coming. He must have more nicknames than all of the other Cardinals combined. Though 'God's Rottweiler' is much preferable to God's French Poodle or some other poofy dog. I have read in previous stories that his nickname was John Paul III, The Enforcer, Panzerkardinal (Iron Cardinal), Cardinal No By his various nicknames you would assume he could either star as a James Bond villain or in a old school Clint Eastwood movie (when Clint use to kill bad guys and not disabled persons).
Update: On the Dennis Prager show today he had on John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Interview and when asked how different groups in the Church think of Cardinal Ratzinger he replied. "Liberals in the Church consider him the Darth Vader of Roman Catholicism"
Known as 
Rottweilers are extremely loyal and don't take crap from anyone --- I like the nickname. He's awesome.
I've heard a particularly strict holder of a doctorate in Canon Law be referred to by fellow members of a marriage tribunal as 'Dr No.'
I think I've also heard, "Gatekeeper." I definitely like "Enforcer," though.
When Ratzinger walks out on the balcony, playing in the background will be the Imperial March from Star Wars...lol
Rottweilers are wonderful dogs. A Rottie will fight to the death to protect his owner. Ratzinger has no chance but if on the off chance that he does get the Keys I will be delighted.
Pope Darth I
"Pope Darth I" LOL
Though Pope Vader I would be cool also. ;)
Ratzy the Rottie gets my vote for pope.
As Cathy says, "Rottweilers are extremely loyal and don't take crap from anyone."
In German, Panzer means "Armor" or "Tank", not Iron. If you wanted to say "Iron Cardinal", it would be Eisenkardinal.
You can remember the word by thinking about WW2 when large numbers of German Panzers rolled over European battlefields (definitely not a good time for western civilization).
Of course, an old school Clint Eastwood movie could also be defined as one where Clint killed people who didn't want to die, instead of people who did.
Well, I like the French Jew, Lustiger, for pope. If you were the Holy Spirit, would you choose a pope whose formative years were during the Nazi regine?
well, kimberley... You were totally wrong! Maybe you should reevaluate your stance on rottweilers.
Love it. Brilliant. Pope Darth I. Hahahahah, Wunderbah.
Bunch of wizards without magic. It's all over except the people realising it is. One day they will think for themselves, but before that I'm sure Pope Darth I will put up a highly entertaining and completely counter-productive fight. Just a shame all those Africans have to get aids and die before they realise it's alright to use condoms though. Still, all highly orthodox and totally in keeping with Catholicisms historical record when it comes to "protecting" life.
I think that Darth the First's message on "Relatavism," struck the right note. May God help him administer the Chaos that is Europe!
"God's Rottweiler"?
I don't think that's very fair to God or Rottweilers.
Maybe he'll remind us why there hasn't been a German pope in almost 1000 years.
Pope Vlad III is suitable.
Sorry, any Pope who's against rock n roll just lost any and all credit I would have given him.
Endlich ein deutscher Papst!
There will be NEVER pope like the John Paul II (cardinal Karol Wojtyla) ...
As an atheist I must concure that John Paul II is and always will be alive!
Here we all shall pay the HONOR to all Poles in tribute to the GREATEST EVER Pope a great Pole!
Long live Free Poland!
PS.
If only Poles could get rid of the cameleons who changed the colour from RED and now are the opressors of Polish nation.
Death to all Commies!
"RATZY" on other hand is a good choice for the Pope, but will be short lived pope.
Best choice for Pope altough not a Cardinal willbe Pope's assistant Stanisla Dziwisz!
He should become Cardinal so he could be elected as NEXT pope!
No Cardinal from US shall ever be allowed to become a Pope!
Another nickname is going around: Paparazzi (Papa: pope, Razzi: short for Ratzinger) I suppose they wont have much to do with him though!
I went through my Lustiger for Pope phase too ... until I realized that would be the WORST ecumenical gesture the world could get right now.
That flies in the face of JPII's teaching regarding the imprudence of forcing anyone to convert to Catholicism. Lustiger is a brilliant man nonetheless.
My thoughts on Pope Ben:
- who'd have guessed that God's Rottweiler would turn out to be a cat person?
- His First Encyclical ROCKED!!!
New nickname:
Ratzinger the Catzinger! (ok, a friend thought of that)
I have a cat, a very large cat. I may change his name to Gentle Ben on each anniversary of the Pope's pontificate to THANK GOD for the wonderful gift He has given us!
The joke I composed to celebrate his elevation:
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To serve the new Pope Eggs Benedict.
(To my American friends, this is not a call to arms: think of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism.)
[and as a simple servant in the Lord's vineyard, I realize that a million+ other people could have thought of the same joke]
And for all you Canadians who may happen to wander by this thread ...
Long Live Our New Govenor General!
(Happiness is smiling "My daughter was blessed by the Pope" :~)
VIVA IL PAPA!!!
+ Lent 2006
I'd like to explain one of the comments I made above (namely: Lustiger being elected pope being a bad ecumenical gesture). I meant it would haven been perceived as a bad ecumenical gesture. I know full well he converted to Catholicism using his own free will (and had he been elected he would have made a fine Pope too).
Should how the world perceives a papal election be a determining factor in who gets elected? I would certainly hope not.
Those opening paragraphs in my previous post have been gnawing at my conscience for quite some time.
Pope Benedict XVI is still doing a fine job.
Viva il Papa!
God Bless the Church and everyone else on planet Earth!
+ Ordinary Time 2006