Pope Benedict shares virtually none of the core political beliefs of American neocons. In his book Jesus of Nazareth, hewarned against "capitalism that degrades man to the level ofmerchandise." He has consistently spoken out against the Iraq war. Andthe whole reason Benedict is coming to America is to address the UnitedNations, which is not the neocons' favorite organization. Even whenBenedict has endorsed a part of the conservative agenda, he has done sowith none of the rigidity that characterizes the writings of AmericanCatholic conservatives. Throughout his career, first as theologian,then as bishop and cardinal, and now as pope, Benedict has emphasizedthe centrality of the person of Christ in the salvation of the world.Yet he has been adept at making profound interreligious gestures,meeting with Muslim diplomats at the Vatican to soothe relations afteran unfortunate remark in a speech, reaching out to Eastern OrthodoxChristians at every opportunity, and even framing the central sectionof his book Jesus of Nazareth as a response to a book by his friend Rabbi Jacob Neusner. When Benedict brought back the traditional Tridentine Mass, he changed certain prayers from the Good Friday liturgy that were offensive to Jews.

Still,Pope Benedict is no liberal. One of the problems with most presscoverage of the Catholic Church is that the left-right template doesn'tfit very well. The right tends to ignore or water down the church'steachings about social justice, while the left frequently minimizes thechurch's teachings on sexual ethics. A pope can't side with eithergroup but must love them both and try to communicate the church'steachings in their entirety and integrity.

The differencebetween Ratzinger the cardinal—the man conservatives saw as an answerto their prayers—and Benedict the pope—who has disappointed those sameCatholics—has less to do with any changes within the man himself. Hehas, by almost all accounts, always been brilliant, concerned aboutoverly hasty theological change, personally kind, prayerful. What haschanged is his job. For 23 years, Cardinal Ratzinger's job was toprotect the deposit of faith from distortions or manipulations which,even if well-intended, might alter the content of what Catholicsbelieve was given them by God when He founded the church. This was adifficult and often controversial task, and it was a desk job. When hewas elected pope, he became a pastor. Albacete says, "He is committedto exploring how faith and reason work together to lead man to thetruth about himself. Benedict would never diminish himself, or hisoffice, fighting tired ideological battles." The change in roles can befound in another way: Until he was elected pope, had anyone ever seen apicture of Joseph Ratzinger embracing children?

Cheering the pope in Washington and New Yorkwill be those Catholics who look to their church for comfort andchallenge, for solace and strength, people who are more concerned aboutloving their pope than they are about any ideological battles within orwithout the church. Joining in the cheers will be many of those whogreeted his election with trepidation. And if there is any gnashing ofteeth, it will be coming from the bleachers on the far right.