” “The German media have given wide coverage to the WYD of Cologne and to the German Pope’s visit, with inevitable comparisons with his predecessor, John Paul II. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (19/8) reads: "Joseph Ratzinger left his homeland as a cardinal. As a Pope, he made a triumphal comeback. The enthusiasm of the young who welcomed him in Cologne was nothing like a claque. It was genuine, moving, catchy. At a time which seems to be so full of material things especially in a country eaten up by the longing for wealth, despite its richness such enthusiasm was nothing short of a miracle".
In the Frankfurter Rundschau, Roman Arens writes: "Over these days, we expect Cologne will bring a revival of faith. Lately, the Pope has expressed himself on several occasions in a light-hearted tone on the joy of being Christians. Does he want people to forget his previous grim opinions on the state of Europe and the Church? Will the expected revival last? These questions cannot be answered yet. But scepticism is in order". "It’s impossible to make predictions on the reaction" between the Pope and his country, writes Jan Ross in Die Zeit (18/8). "Benedict XVI will not say anything different from his predecessors about sex and morals, but probably he will speak more about other things: for Christians, about the beauty of faith; for intellectuals, about religion as a healthy remedy to modernity".
Finally, in Die Welt (19/8), Paul Badde comments: "John Paul II is everywhere in Cologne. He is here, in the JPII generation that welcomed the new Pope. Benedict XVI can hardly recognise the Cologne he left as professor Ratzinger. And now, even Germany hardly recognises the Pope. Now, they are together again in Cologne, on the Rhine and in front of the Cathedral: in one single young Church, gathered around the eternally young and old God".
