Oh dear. Out of the frying pan into the fire?
I can't imagine this man is going to do anything useful at all, like encouraging African catholics to use condoms and halt the spread of Aids. He has declared himself to be anti-gay, anti-women priests and anti-abortion.
Should go down well in the US then.

just as conservative.

Unfortunately Benedict XVI. is not going to change that, he will keep up the tradition.

The catholic church is middle-aged, don't expect anything to change....

I am in favour of contraception, pro choice in case of abortion, gay-friendly etc, but I am not a catholic myself.

It's horrible and difficult for poor countries in Africa which will still not receive condoms and the contraceptive pill. It's a shame but I don't think that any Pope will ever change that.

I don't undestand what he has to do with British people.

I think that a Pope has not to be considered as an ennemy or friend just because he is a Pope and do not belong to a country or another counry. He represents Goed and that is. God representts a lot for me but I reproach to the actual Pope to be to much present in the social life of every body. We, in France, has fought a lot centuries ago to have a separation between church and state. That is not the case with Pope Benededetto . Social life has nothing to do witth the faith. That is what I think in all humility. Too much intruding in private life. Excuse my english which as you can see is not my mother tongue. Leave to God what belongs to God. No importance the nationality of the person who prays.

there are millions of Chatolics in the world, many of them in developing countries, who rely on their Church for guidance.
It is extremely dangerous having someone with strong fundamentalist views at the head of any religion, let alone one of the biggest and most influential in the world.