German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday paid tribute to the late Pope Benedict XVI, whom he described as an outstanding theologian of great humility after the funeral Mass in Rome for the Pope Emeritus.
«He transmitted to the faithful the rich treasure of the Catholic Church with reason and with the soul. That is what will shape his memory,» said Steinmeier, who added that Benedict XVI was highly respected around the world, something that did not change after his retirement from the pontificate in 2013, German news agency DPA reported.
He also expressed his gratitude for having been able to participate in the funeral in St. Peter’s Square and for the fact that Pope Francis had previously received the German delegation. In this regard, he stressed that the Pope Emeritus was always deeply anchored in Catholic traditions, but at the same time he called for dialogue with other churches and religions.
«He himself led the conversation with Muslims and also with Jews,» he has stressed, before also recalling Joseph Ratzinger’s visits to Germany and his speech in the Bundestag. «He was the first pope to speak before the lower house of the German parliament,» he extolled.
On the other hand, the German president has emphasized that Benedict XVI committed himself to address allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. «A process of reconciliation with the past is underway and must continue,» he remarked.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
