Ratzinger styles himself Benedict XVI

As a lover of Vatican lore, nothing is better than election time in the Holy See of Rome. The tradition is rich with its white and black smoke, the conclave of cardinals and the anticipation of a new successor to Saint Peter.

Jesus supposedly elected one of his apostles, Simon, naming him Peter or the Rock of the new Church. Of course, since the church was not yet officially accepted, the early history is murky.

The name the pope takes is very special. It sets the tone for the papacy and sends a signal to the clergy. I like the early names. Linus came after Peter and then Cletus. The previous pope adopted John Paul after his predecessor, which was a name created from two popular names among popes, John and Paul. There were 23 Johns, all originating from the apostle and the writer of the gospel.

Benedict derives from Saint Benedict, the founder of the most hallowed order of monks in Catholicism. Benedict did not start monasticism but he did establish in the early 6th century the rules that almost all orders derive from. The Rule of Benedict is strict but not as strict as the later Cistercians. It is an order focused on discipline, learning and worship. While many trends have gained ascendancy at times, the Benedictines have remained the rock of the church, a solid tie to the past.

I imagine this pope will try to be this rock for the modern church. Strict, learned and worshipful. The previous pope Benedicts have had a sketchy past. Benedict XV was not too bad but his papacy was marred by war. The simoniacal Benedict IX was as bad as a pope could be.

The new pope is also a message sent by the cardinals who elected him. Benedict XVI is German. The church's relationship with the Germans has been an interesting one. At one time more than 10% of the German population was employed by the church. The German Emperors controlled the church during the early middle ages. The Germans were also the ones who eventually brought the Church to its knees in the 16th century with the Reformation. Not since the 11th century have we had a German pope. Perhaps this is an attempt to resurrect old ties.

We will see.