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Something "Grandfatherly" About Him
by Rich Thomaselli
Pope Benedict XVI charms U.S. audiences, who compare him to a grandfather
Prior to becoming Pope Benedict XVI three years ago, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was an advisor to the much-beloved Pope John Paul II. Ratzinger was known as “Cardinal No” and “God’s Rottweiler” for his strict interpretation of Catholic doctrine.
But during his six-day visit to the United States last week, the pope charmed thousands upon thousands of people and drew the ultimate compliment — he was called "grandfatherly" several times over by the media and those he touched.
In recapping Benedict’s visit, a USA Today headline on Monday, April 21, stated “Pontiff’s personality shines through in NYC.” The subtitle was, “Benedict XVI’s grandfatherly persona charms Roman Catholics as his U.S. tour comes to a close.”
In the body of the story, the authors wrote, “As for his personal style, Benedict's affable, grandfatherly persona won over Catholics — and non-Catholics — of all kinds. Instead of the strict scholar Benedict was often portrayed as before becoming pope, Americans saw an avuncular priest who bestowed his blessing at every stop, arms wide open and brown eyes sparkling.”
Vatican expert Father Thomas Williams, who appeared April 19 on CBS’ The Saturday Early Show, also compared the pope to a grandparent.
“I don't think anyone expected the level of response that he's had, and especially from the young,” Father Williams said. “He's really connected. And some think — they find him to be very endearing. He's soft-spoken, but there's something grandfatherly and warm and inviting about him.”
Another Vatican expert, George Weigel, predicted before Benedict’s arrival that the Pope would earn that kind of comparison.
“People are going to meet someone who comes across far more like a friendly, courteous, knowledgeable grandfather than some kind of enforcer,” Weigel, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and an author of a biography of the Pope, told the Baltimore Sun.
During his visit to Washington D.C. and New York City, the Holy Father held a secret meeting with victims of the church’s sexual abuse scandal. One of the victims, Olan Horne, twice described the pope by using the word grandfather.
“I actually kept my head down; I couldn't believe it until I saw his little red shoes,” Horne told the Boston Globe. “I looked up, and I had the eyes of somebody's grandfather looking at me. He was a very sincere, humble man.”
Later, in a radio interview that aired on the Australian show PM, as well as ABC Local Radio, Horne said: “And it was obvious that if you were looking at your grandmother or your grandfather [for] the sincerity in his eyes, and it was there.”
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