Church bells rang across Germany on Saturday as leaders across the country paid tribute to Benedict XVI – the first German to become pope in decades, but whose legacy remains His country of birth is disputed.
“As a ‘German’ pope, Benedict XVI is an exceptional church leader for many, not just in this country,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement. a statement on Twitter. “The world has lost a formative figure of the Catholic Church, a belligerent personality and a wise theologian. My thoughts go out to Pope Francis.”
In Munich, the Archbishop, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, give a prayer in honor of Benedict. “Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away and we mourn him: he put his trust in him, lived with him, sought him out. Now bring him to eternal life and give him the joy of resurrection.”
Born in 1927 as Josef Ratzinger, in the Bavarian village of Hostel Marktl am, the future Benedict XVI grew up during the Second World War and was enrolled in the Hitler Youth as a teenager, which was mandatory at the time. But those were not the years under Nazi rule – but took a course that was largely common to German men of his generation — as well as his role in handling the church sex abuse scandals that have dogged his legacy in Germany.
In early 2022, the retired pope, who stepped down as leader of the global Catholic Church in 2013, admitted to providing false information to the German investigation into church sexual abuse. doctor, and strongly denies any wrongdoing or misleading intent on his part.
In a written statement to the investigation, he said he did not recall attending a meeting with local officials in 1980 to discuss a priest suspected of pedophilia. However, Benedict XVI changed that position a few days after reports accused him during his time as archbishop of Munich, from 1977 to 1982, of mishandling the case of four priests allegation of child sexual abuse. Reports that he refused to be present at the meeting lacked credibility.
In response, Benedict ask forgiveness for “abuses and mistakes” under his supervision, but said the discrepancy in his testimony was an honest mistake made during the editing process.
The president of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, on Saturday described Benedict XVI as an “impressive theologian” and “an experienced pastor”. But Bishop Bätzing also acknowledged problems with Benedict’s handling of abuse cases as an archbishop. “He has asked forgiveness from those affected, but the questions are still unanswered,” the bishop said.
The mostly ceremonial German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, issued a statement paying tribute to Benedict, specifically citing his ability to make his religious teachings relevant. accessible to all faiths. Mr. Steinmeier also raised the topic of sexual abuse in the church.
The president wrote: “Benedict “has faced the worldwide problem of sexual abuse and its systematic cover-up. “Here he has a special responsibility. Benedict knows of the great suffering of the victims and the enormous damage to the reputation of the Church.”
On social media, the rector of Cologne cathedral posted a video of “Fat Pete”, the cathedral’s largest bell, ringing in honor of Benedict. From Munich, clergy released a video of funeral bells ringing at St. Michael. And across Bavaria, Benedict’s predominantly Catholic state, local leaders and state parties have mourned his passing.
“We mourn the passing of our Bavarian pope,” said governor Markus Söder, adding: “With him, society has lost a convincing representative of the Catholic Church and one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century.”
“He gave strength and direction to many people,” said Mr. Söder. “At the same time, however, he also faced responsibility for the difficult times in his ministry.”
In Berlin, the German Parliament announced that mourning flags would be flown over the parliament building, in a statement noting that Benedict had visited there as a guest 11 years ago. “Never has a pope addressed the elected German Parliament,” the statement said.
In the German media, some have quoted a famous headline from the country’s largest daily newspaper, Bild, which in 2005 welcomed Benedict XVI’s ascension with the words “We are the pope!On Saturday, at least two news outlets offered a variation: “We are popes.”
