Vatican Insider
September 20, 2011
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/news/detail/articolo/papa-pope-el-papa-germania-germany-alemania-8170/
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| THE POPE, DEPICTED IN A PAINTING BY TRIEGLI, ON EXHIBITION IN GERMANY |
"The hopeless one" is the title of a long inquest carried out by German weekly news magazine "Der Spiegel" which blames Benedict XVI for the abandonment of the German Catholic Church by many believers
Weekly news magazine "Der Spiegel" has dedicated the cover of its latest issue, on sale tomorrow, to the Pope, with the rather provocative title: "The Hopeless one". The article claims the Pope is to blame for Germans abandoning the faith.
Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Germany, from 22 to 25 September, has sparked a great deal of controversy in the Country, where various demonstrations are expected to take place. In Parliament too, where the Pope will make a speech before the German Parliament's assembled Chambers, about a hundred MPs have decided to walk out of the session.
Meanwhile, yesterday, Benedict XVI said he was joyfully looking forward to his visit to Berlin and his speech before the Bundestag.
In his message to his fellow countrymen, broadcast by German state TV channel ARD, the Pope clearly outlined the spirit and the aim of the 21st international papal visit, the third to his Country and the first to areas of East Germany that have been worse hit by dechristianisation compared to the regions of the former Federal Republic.
My visit is neither for "show," nor is it "religious tourism." I am going to help human beings put God back on their horizon. Erfurt will be an "important" step of the journey, as this is "where Luther started his journey," but do not expect a "sensational event."
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