The relevance of the new papacy

In an age of globalization, people's identities and loyalties are increasingly tied to the one constant in their lives: Religion. Can the new Pope make a difference in their lives, asks Arun Pereira

A time of expanding global trade, new technologies disseminating information in unprecedented ways, and religious fanaticism forcing people to take up arms. Yes, the 16th century was a momentous period that saw a surge in globalization, the invention of the printing press, and wars driven by religious fanatics.

It also saw the unravelling of a unique alliance between the popes and the emperors of the so-called Holy Roman Empire, after eight centuries of mutually beneficial — and sometimes, uneasy — collaboration. That alliance and its unravelling may have important implications for the present times, particularly as the world prepares for a change in the papacy.

Beginning with Charlemagne in 800 AD, the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire used religion — through the papacy — to wield power over subjects spread over various principalities and fiefdoms in western and central Europe.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1113947411659&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795

Maybe everything old is new again?

that at a time when we are seeing a lot of changes on the planet, people will automatically try to take a step backwards to a time when they understood the world around them.

A time they can cope with...before they are forced, by events, to move forward.

Toffler predicted this some time ago in the book 'Future Shock'

"Benedict's Age, Health Prompt Concern"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=Papacy_and_the_Vatican

Alternate Subject title: "Again?"