Help me and others understand...I see the Pope as a political figure

I know that most Catholics see him as a religious figure that is appointed by a God influence Cardinal vote. I know that many here feel that we are being disrespectful of your beliefs. We probably are so I want to understand from my DU community what you believe and think.

I'll offer my belief. I see the Pope as the leader of the Catholic faith. I understand that many see him differently and I try to respect that. The religious beliefs I honor but when he enters the political realm then I believe he's a man that deserves questioning. I don't for a second think he offers any godliness to political discussions. He offers political power of the Catholic Church, his education, his lifetime of service. He has tremendous power but I see him as a man of God and of faith. He doesn't offer anymore than most men when we talk about closeness to God.

So, I sort of understand that you see the Pope differently. I want to understand the Catholic belief so I can question this Pope without offending Catholics.

I grew up with him that way, and I went to 12 years of parochial school. The Pope has NEVER garnished this much attention, to my recollection, until religion was forced front and center by the people in power now. Presidents didn't feel compelled to attend papal funerals, nor did they ever order that flags be flown half mast.

I believe there is a concerted effort to make the Pope a more central figure than he really is. I'm not sure whether the neocons in the US see this as a way to consolidate power, but I suspect it won't have quite the oomph that they are hoping for. The Pope is not like the US president in his reach & power. Maybe he's not as irrelevant as I came to see him in the 70s, but he's not the only church voice that the laity hears.

And if they are going to try and elevate him to some kind of political figure, then they deserve to risk having him be disrespected, like any political figure. Disrespect away, IMO.

Made the Papacy less distant--the Neocons weren't involved. Despite his doctrinal conservatism, JPII was charismatic & a great traveler.

There's a definite political angle to the papacy that's worth analysis. But far too many of these threads have devolved into the worst type of "Papist" hating & general ridicule of religion. They have no political meaning.

Pope and the Vatican was great and unified, especially in European nations, thanks to Charlemagne. -Holy Roman Empire.
After Pope Gregory, politics and religion were completely synthesized.
The Church felt the the need to convert the "heathens" and the "Pagans".
e.g. Inquisition, Crusades, Witch Hunts, etc. The Vatican did have an army at one time.
It was the Pope who divided South America between Spain and Portugal. That is how great his political power was.
After corruption and dissatisfaction led to the rise of Protestantism, Anglicanism, etc., did some nations diminish their allegiance to the Pope and thereby did the Vatican lose some of its political clout. Growing secularism, The Enlightnement, the Industrial Revolution as well as increased travel and technology, and enhanced communication that led to the acknowledgement of the existence of many other religions, diminished the political clout of the Pope and the Vatican.
That is why the Vatican is now concentrating on South America and Africa. They are rich sources for new converts, and therefore new power bases.
EDIT: The Vatican has always been involved in power politics. It may be more subtle in some decades than others...but it is always there.

After reading of the shadowy ties developed between the BFEE and Ratzinger, I no longer view him as a religious figure.

He's a politician, and he's backing the Anti-Christ.

DU thread

He can be very influential on politics.

in the world . . . wonder what its links are to the BFEE? . . . probably substantial, and undoubtedly highly secret . . .

on edit: there are some who believe that Pope John Paul I was murdered because he intended to expose corruption within the Vatican, and particularly within the Vatican Bank . . . yet another BFEE-assisted assassination? . . .

Ties between Neil Bush and Ratzinger have recently come to light.

Neil Bush, Ratzinger co-founded Geneva religious board (Newsday)

DU thread

the one currently playing bumper cars with Antarctica . . .

The Pope refines and establishes doctrine. The Pope also engages in politics.