The reception of a Catholic spiritual leader was not easy in a country whose President is a divorced and remarried Catholic not allowed to receive communion, a Chancellor daughter of a Lutheran priest and an openly gay Mayor of Berlin. Despite all the previous critics, Benedict XVI has proved that the Church is a link between Germany's past and present, he has expressed concern about the darkest times of the country but also about its new challenges like the economy or the environment. Joseph Ratzinger may not have the charisma of John Paul II, but has a progressive view (as progressive as a 2000 years old institution can afford) on controversial aspects such as the use of contraception or the talks with other religions. The media, mostly ignorant of the reality of the Church, still presents him as a reactionary Nazi old man. As usual, History will tell.
I was very interested in how Germany was going to react with the pope's visit. Germany is becoming a very secular country with the time, most of the young people do not go to church anymore and they are even transforming many churches in places for other purposes like art gelleries for example.
ReplyDeleteEven though I agree with David, that the visit has been positive, and that his talk at the German parliament was a symbol of the importance and the respect that he still has in his country of origin.
I do not agree with the statement that the Church is a link between Germany´s past and present. As Alejandra has addressed, Germany is becoming more and more secular nowadays. Religion, as in many other countries, is losing followers and therefore power. The great values are still remaining in society but Church itself is not as big as it was less than a century ago, so I believe Germany will have to find this history link somewhere else.
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