World | Pope Benedict XVI Pope Celebrates Rocky 5th Anniversary Beleaguered Vatican isn't exactly popping champagne By Kevin Spak Posted Apr 19, 2010 1:05 PM CDT Copied Pope Benedict XVI, center, delivers a blessing prior to a luncheon with Cardinals to mark the fifth anniversary of his election, in the Ducale Hall, at the Vatican, April 19, 2010. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano) Today marks the fifth anniversary of Pope Benedict's ascension to the papacy, but they aren't exactly popping champagne at the beleaguered Vatican. At the moment Benedict is embroiled in a massive pedophilia scandal that could define his papal legacy, and it's not like he's had a charmed papacy until now, Sylvia Poggioli reports in a rather scathing piece for NPR. Benedict's a lousy communicator, and he's attracted a host of critics. “This is a papacy of permanent crisis,” says one veteran Vatican correspondent, citing incidents like his comments about condoms and AIDs, or his various kerfuffles with Muslims and Jews. One Swiss theologian and longtime colleague of Benedict's has actually advised bishops to actively disobey him when he eschews necessary reforms. And the head of the Association of Young German Catholics says Benedict has utterly failed to reach kids. “There's no such thing as a generation Benedict,” he says. Read These Next Man was planning cremation for his sister, who turned out to be alive. 'Putin wants legal recognition to what he has stolen.' Hegseth: Scouts no longer 'cultivate masculine values.' Mom allegedly passed 31 hospitals on road trip as daughter was dying. Report an error