Front Runner For The Pope Was In Hitler Youth

FRONT-RUNNER WAS IN HITLER YOUTH

Apr 18 2005
By Chris Hughes

A LEADING candidate for pope was in the Hitler Youth, it was revealed yesterday.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (right) - who also saw service in the German army - is nicknamed The Panzer Cardinal and God's Rottweiler because of his rigorous defence of the faith.

The 78-year-old German, who led John Paul II's funeral service, joined the young Nazi movement in Bavaria aged 14 shortly after membership was made compulsory in 1941. He soon left after enrolling to be a priest.

Other front-runners include conservative Nigerian Francis Arinze, 72 (who'd be the first black pope), Brazilian Claudio Hummes, 70, who's conservative on doctrine but socially progressive, "roly poly" conservative Italian Dionigi Tettamanzi, 71, and Belgian moderate Godfried Daneels, 71.

Britain's Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, 72, is also in the running. The former bishop of Arundel and Brighton is a rank outsider but a possible compromise choice.