Reply #3: Comment [View All]

Far be it for me to defend Pope Benedict. I have concerns about the choice the Cardinals made yesterday. I hope I'm wrong, but he appears to be a rigid, divisive figure.

Nevertheless, Joseph Ratzinger's affiliation with the Hitler Youth should not be of great concern to anyone. According to the BBC Profile of the new pope, it was required of young Germans at the time to join the Hitler Youth. It means nothing more than the fact that I, as an American, attended elementary school; that was required of me, too. It does not necessarily reflect on his views or those of any other German his age, who were also compelled to join the Hitler Youth.

We might make more out of the fact that he deserted the German army before the end of the war.