20,000 people took part yesterday in the High Mass that was held in Saarbrucken to end the 96th Katholikentag. The President of the German Bishops Conference, card. Karl Lehmann, warned, during the sermon, that "the issue of social justice cannot be forgotten. The basis of the welfare State consists first of all in ensuring those basic needs that belong to human dignity". Lehmann also criticised an oft-individualistic view of justice: "We must take responsibility for ourselves and for others. A welfare state must be able to cover the fundamental risks of life even when the circumstances change". The cardinal recalled the need to extend solidarity to the whole world: "Globalisation must be an opportunity for everyone", he warned. (to be continued)
