With daring faith

A Mass celebrated with 100.000 faithful closed Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit to Germany. A visit marked by many expectations, also because of the implications linked to the cities visited by the Holy Father: Berlin, Erfurt, Eichsfeld and finally Freiburg, from September 22 to 25. There were high expectations, especially as regards ecumenism and the relationship with the evangelical Church. In reality, the anticipated polemics against the Pope’s speech at the Bundestag were circumscribed. The German parliament, occupied by most of its members, welcomed the Pontiff with a long round of applause and attentively listened to his words, that were shared even by the representatives of political groups otherwise distant from the Catholic Church, like for the Pope’s appeal for the protection of the Creation. Follow comments from the German Catholic and political realms. “An enrichment and a great gift”. This is the balance of the visit of Benedict XVI to Germany for Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, president of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), and archbishop of Freiburg. Speaking to journalists during the press conference held in Freiburg on September 25, Msgr. Zolltisch said that the German Catholic Church was encouraged by the presence of the Pontiff, and pointed out that during the Sunday lunch with the bishops, “the Pope spontaneously addressed his words to them” showing “his solidarity and underlining that he is aware of the situation of the Catholic Church and the ongoing difficult period” of the ongoing crisis caused by the abuse scandal. “This solidarity is a great encouragement for the bishops. The Pope’s speech was brief but it was very clear and very friendly”. The Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference Hans Langendörfer said that in all his speeches “Benedict XVI repeatedly encouraged people to dare their faith”. Force and joy. “The effects of the Pope’s visit will become evident in time” said Msgr. Joachim Wanke, bishop of Erfurt. In the press conference held on September 24, the bishop said he believes that “the meetings in Etzelsbach and in Erfurt will live on as fountainheads of joy and force”. Wanke thanked all those “who contributed to the success of the days, rich with content and emotion for a small local Church”. Referring to pope Benedict XVI’s meeting with five abuse victims the bishop underlined that “it should not be understood as applying the sponge on the scandals of the past year”. Instead, emphasis is placed “on developing a special sensitivity to prevent future cases”. Alois Glück, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), conveyed his joy for the papal visit, which has shown that “Catholics in Germany are not so distant from their Pope, as has always been claimed”. “We continue our mission as Church in the world with renewed thrust”, Glück said in a statement released on September 26. “The visit of pope Benedict was a spur and a challenge”, he continued, reiterating the commitment to continue “the process of dialogue in the Catholic Church that began in Mannheim”. Ecumenism. Msgr. Zollitsch and card. Karl Lehmann, archbishop of Magonza, DBK former president, also highlighted the effects of the papal visit in the field of ecumenism. Speaking at the Vatican Radio, Lehmann said that Benedict XVI “cautiously” spoke of Martin Luther so as not to interfere with ongoing preparatory work on the ecumenical homage planned for 2017, for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. However, “Benedict XVI’s visit to the Agostinian convent of Erfurt is already significant per se, as it was first the home of Martin Luther”. Christine Lieberknecht, president of the Land Turingia, spoke of a “grandiose event”: “as evangelical theologian I am not disappointed that the Pope made no concrete concessions to my Church”. “I am patient in ecumenism”, she added, sharing the view of Msgr. Wanke that “ecumenism springs from the faith”. According to Alois Glück, after the Pope’s visit “we are ever more frequently called to further delve into ecumenical coexistence inside our communities, in theological dialogue and at the level of Church dignitaries”. The celebrations for the Year of Luther 2017 will be a special challenge in this direction.