Pope Benedict has praised Catholics in eastern Germany who held on to their Christian beliefs despite the “acid rain” that corroded their faith under the Nazis and communism. The pope said mass on Saturday for some 30,000 people in the medieval main square of this city in former communist East Germany, where only about seven percent of the people are Catholic.
“You have had to endure first a brown and then a red dictatorship, which acted on the Christian faith like acid rain,” he told the crowd from the altar, set against a hill dominated by Erfurt’s cathedral and another Catholic church. About two hours before the mass a man fired an air gun at security staff at a checkpoint in Erfurt, police said. Detained on the spot, the unidentified man told police he was protesting at the strict security measures.
The pope’s third trip to his homeland since his election in 2005 has attracted small crowds and some protests against the church’s positions on homosexual marriage and birth control, and a sexual abuse scandal. The 84-year-old praised those who remained faithful despite the pressures of the Nazi and communist regimes but appeared disappointed there had been no resurgence in faith since German reunification in 1990.
Benedict held a surprise meeting on Friday evening in Erfurt with victims of sexual abuse by priests. Church officials said on Saturday there were three men and two women present, chosen from many victims around Germany who had asked to meet the pope. “There was no dispute, that wasn’t the atmosphere of the conversations, but to really listen, and it was obvious that the Holy Father felt deep regret, he expressed that clearly,” said Bishop Stephan Ackermann.
About 700 Germans have filed for compensation for abuse by priests and Church personnel. A record 181,000 Germans left the Church last year, many in protest at the abuse scandal. A Vatican statement after his meeting with victims at the Erfurt seminary said the pope had been “moved and deeply shaken” and had assured victims the Church was “committed to the promotion of effective measures to protect children”.
Victims’ associations have said the Vatican has not done enough to bring the perpetrators of abuse to justice. German victims joined 8,000 protesters on a march through Berlin, where the Pope began his visit.
On Friday, Benedict called for unity between Catholics and Protestants at the monastery where 16th century reformer Martin Luther lived before he posted his 95 theses criticising the Catholic Church that led to the Reformation.
