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I had to go back four pages on the threads list to find some thread appropriate for this - it is partly about B16 and the Church but the protagonist is a high-profile Churchman himself.
So may be this is the right place.

From the Brazilian magazine VEJA (courtesy of Rosario30) loosely translated from Portuguese here are excerpts from an interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper, chairman of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians since 2001,as well as the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. Kasper was in Sao Paolo recently for an inter-religious celebration with the Jews. Kasper has known Joseph Ratzinger for 40 years and is a theologian like him. However, in 1993, he was one of 3 German bishops who decided to give Communion to divorced Catholics, but they stopped doing it the following year at the behest of the Vatican.

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On Pope Benedict and the Jews-
The new Pope will continue the work of John Paul II in promoting relations between the Catholic Church and the Jews. His recent visit to a synagogue in Cologne was full of symbolism a German pope in a synagogue levelled by the Nazis during the Second World War. There could have been no better proof of the desire of Catholics to proceed with the task of reconciliaiton. Joseph Ratzinger was always very close to John Paul II. He was one of the principal thinkers behind the Pope. After the conclave, it was said in the corridors of the Vatican that he had been blessed due to his friendship with John Paul II. Soon after he was elected, he told people close to him that the important thing was to continue with the work of his predecessor.

Will the Church agree to the demand by some Jews for access to all Vatican documents regarding Pope Pius XII (who has been accused of failing to do enough in the face of Nazi persecution of the Jews)?
The Church itself is obliged to investigate everything in the Popes past (in the process of canonization). I cannot say that Pope Benedict will allow access to documents that are still being studied. But I dont think that open disclosure of those documents will change anything much - I dont think even a total opening of those archives will change the sentiments of the Jewish people towards the Catholic church, for good or bad. There are greater issues than that. ..I have no doubt that the accusations against Pius XII are unjust. It was a difficult and turbulent time. The problems were not simply humanitarian but political as well. It is said that he could have saved more Jews from death if he had spoken out more publicly against Nazi atrocities thats a hypothesis. And if he had done so, he could have drawn the vengeance of Hitler (against the Catholic Church). He must have faced great internal struggles, and it could not have been easyThis question is not likely to affect the canonization process. The Church has other criteria for deciding who may be canonized, and I dont think the documents referred to will be decisive in the case of Pope Pius XII.

Asked about what religion can do to combat terrorism-
Obviously, the Church cannot interfere politically, much less militarily. But in the Middle East, particularly in the countries who are hostile to Israel, the Church can be an intermediary between Jews and Muslims. In relation to Islam, although the Church does not say there is a direct link between terrorism and Islam, Pope Benedict XVI took a very important public position recently. For the first time, a Pope called on Muslim leaders to reject any interpretation of Islam that inspires or justifies terrorism. It is a stand that is necessary to make at this time. We live in an era when no one can afford the luxury of apathy.

On the Churchs conservative stand in matters such as abortion, stem cells and divorce-
First of all, I reject the use of labels like conservative or progressive that is being simplistic. Besides, what is seen as being conservative for the Catholic Church would be considered progressive by more traditionalist Churches such as the Orthodox Church or Islam. The present crisis (of the Church) is one of faith.

Will the new Pope adopt new positions on these issues(and) thus stop Catholics from turning away to other religions, like the evangelicals?
Advances in science and modernity are very complex matters, and some such advances threaten the dignity of life. (For instance), abortion is a crime against the human being. The mission of the Church is not to dehumanize mankind further, but the opposite. The Church will not appeal to the faithful by making changes that contribute to such dehumanization. So I dont think there will be any great changes in this Papacy related to those issues. The world is being transformed so rapidly and in a frenetic manner. We Catholics know that in the face of such changes, we must show that the Church is a firm and solid institution that does not allow itself to be influenced easily by current winds of change. We must show that we have principles and that we live by these principles.

But you yourself have been progressive in allowing communion for divorced Catholics
Questions of morality which confront the contemporary world are always debated within the Church, because these issues must be analyzed. The question of divorce is different it is not directly related to (the primacy of) human life like abortion or fetal stem-cell research.

Is it now possible to say how different Benedicts Papacy will be from John Paul IIs?
Unprecedented conquests were made during the previous Papacy, like the initiation of active dialog with other religions, as well as an emphasis on human rights, and consideration of the issues related to contemporary life, in general. Benedict XVI will not abandon the positions taken by his predecessor in those matters. He will continue to use modern means of communication as an instrument for propagating the faith. John Paul IIs innovations have made the world aware that the Roman Catholic Church is a major institution and force. We saw that in the participation at his funeral. Of course, part of that was due to John Paul IIs own personal charisma. Benedict XVI is a much more reserved person, and doubtless, one of his challenges is to achieve the same popularity as John Paul.
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[I thought Kasper was doing so well...until that last sentence which I find to be both short-sighted and gratuitous.]