He's too humble to say it, so I will

Pope Benedict XVI has perhaps the strongest theological credentials of any Pope there has ever been, perhaps even including St. Peter (who had the distict advantage of knowing Christ in person). Without question, he's the most academically-qualified theologian living today and perhaps the most intellectual theologian of the past 700 years or so (For the moment, I'll give St. Thomas Aquinas the benefit of the doubt). I expect him to be not only a saint some day, but even a Doctor of the Church.

The wonderful thing that I find so amusing is how maddening he is to his critics. You see, they just can't deal with the fact that he's smarter than they are. He's thought deeply about the "liberal" teachings they want to espouse and decided they're wrong, and they just can't stand it.

There was a joke (found on Catholic-Pages) written some years ago (obviously while Rahner was still alive) on this subject, and I just don't tire of it.

Karl Rahner, Hans Kung and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger all die on the same day, and go to meet St. Peter to know their fate.

St. Peter approaches the three of them, and tells them that he will interview each of them to discuss their views on various issues.

He then points at Rahner and says "Karl! In my office..." After 4 hours, the door opens, and Rahner comes stumbling out of St. Peter's office. He is highly distraught, and is mumbling things like "Oh God, that was the hardest thing I've ever done! How could I have been so wrong! So sorry...never knew..." He stumbles off into Heaven, a testament to the mercy of Our God.

St. Peter follows him out, and sticks his finger in Kung's direction and "Hans! You're next..." After 8 hours, the door opens, and Kung comes out, barely able to stand. He is near collapse with weakness and a crushed spirit. He , too, is mumbling things like "Oh God, that was the hardest thing I've ever done! How could I have been so wrong! So sorry...never knew..." He stumbles off into Heaven, a testament to the mercy of Our God.

Lastly, St. Peter, emerging from his office, says to Cardinal Ratzinger, "Joseph, your
turn." TWELVE HOURS LATER, St. Peter stumbles out the door, apparently exhausted, saying "Oh God, that's the hardest thing I've ever done..."