I think that if he takes a position on anything, it can do real harm or real good.
There are many, many Catholics all over the world. It is a huge denomination. I believe that most of them are very good people with rational minds. However, there are some who may have less education and might, for example, live in third world countries. Those people might take what the pope says as coming from the mouth of God Himself. Therefore the pope has to be really careful what kind of statements he makes because he has influence over large numbers of people.
If he makes an anti-Semitic statement, it could spark a rise in anti-Semitism.
He may not have the power that popes did in the Middle Ages, but I don't think people should underestimate his influence either.
I was really happy when John Paul II took a very strong pro-life stance. This may have saved many babies' lives and some women's lives too. I was furious when John Paull II was smooching a Qu'ran.
I just hope Ratzinger doesn't say anything that leads to too much harm for the Jewish people.
As a non-denominational Christian, I don't follow him, and I think he's just a human being like the rest of us who can make mistakes and be wrong about things. I do want him to be successful in inspiring people to behave in a moral way. If he suggests anything immoral though, I want him to fail.