Why is Pope Benedict not as beloved as Pope John Paul II?
I don’t think you can “start out” with “instant acceptance” in any occupation; you have to work at being the kind of person who others will admire, like and respect, because all of those things need to be EARNED, IMHO, and not just “handed out” to someone, based on the fact that s/he was elected or appointed to a particular office. Pope John Paul II was “charming,” and was known to have a terrific sense of humor, including self-deprecating humor, which added to his “charm.” Pope Benedict appears to lack a sense of humor, as far as I can determine, and has facial expressions that make him appear to be “sterner” than his predecessor. In short, he hardly smiles. If other folks see the same thing as I do, then that would tend to detract from his overall appeal, and would make him not as beloved, as Pope John Paul II was.
