Ratzinger the Man to Beat?

From the NY Times:

ROME, April 16 - There was never doubt that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's hard-line defender of the faith, would have a strong hand in selecting the next pope. But in the days of prayer and politics before the conclave, which begins on Monday, he has emerged as perhaps the surprise central figure: the man who could become the 265th pope, choose him or be the one other cardinals knock from the running.

I do love how the Times describes Ratzinger as the "Vatican's hard-line defender of the faith." Imagine that, a Roman Catholic cardinal that zealously defends the Roman Catholic faith.

And people wonder why no one takes the NY Times seriously.