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Podcast “important today”: farewell to Pope Benedict XVI.

Podcast “important today”: farewell to Pope Benedict XVI.

“The Pope is the last absolute absolute ruler in the whole world,” says Vatican expert Andreas Englisch. Today in Rome the world is saying goodbye to one who revolutionized his office: Pope Benedict XVI.

Benedict will go down in history because he was the first pope to resign and thus disenchanted and humanized the role of the pontifex maximus: “That has drastically changed the office of the pope, because it also means that popes can be asked to resign.” , says Andreas Englisch in the 436th episode “important today”. Benedict VXI. but was not just a pope who revolutionized. When he took office, “there was a very clear jolt back,” says the journalist in the podcast.

A Pope of Regression: Old Traditions and the Strengthening of Christian Europe

While his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, stood for the “globalization of the church” – “opened the church’s windows”, as Andreas Englisch says – Benedict wanted to strengthen Europe as a Christian continent: “He was not of the opinion that Islam belonged to Europe.” He clung to the old traditions. And: “It wasn’t a pope who was particularly interested in social injustices, that wasn’t his topic.”

The abuse scandal of the Catholic Church: Benedict XVI. as a scout?

However, as the Vatican expert sees it, Benedict XVI. the first pope to investigate the abuse scandal. As much as Andreas Englisch appreciated Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, “he is responsible for the fact that the Vatican mercilessly swept the abuse scandal under the carpet.” Only Ratzinger grossly underestimated the extent. He didn’t believe that it was a systemic problem that affected many countries, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands: “He loved his church so much that he just didn’t want to see that his church had made serious mistakes. So serious that people have been driven to suicide.” Benedict did not take radical enough action, says Englisch. He did admit personal guilt – his own and that of individuals. However, he missed the crucial step of saying that the church operated a system that covered up crimes and protected perpetrators.

After the death of Benedict XVI: A change of epoch

With the death of Benedict XVI. A change of era begins for Andreas Englisch. Because when he took office in 2005, he was the last pope to become head of a church that still came with a proud chest and great self-confidence. “Francis and all his successors will be dealing with a church that is in deep crisis.” According to studies, every fourth member in Germany is considering leaving the church. That goes down well in Rome, says Andreas Englisch: “Because Germany is a key donor to the Vatican.” But the Church is a “global enterprise” and membership is increasing in other parts of the world.

In Europe, however, concerns about “de-Christianization” are justified, believes Andreas Englisch. “I never would have thought it possible that this would simply be thrown overboard within a generation,” says the journalist. Because the institution has shaped Europe down to the smallest detail – “and I ask myself: what comes after that?”. The church needs reform, that much is clear. And that’s in full swing, Pope Francis has “totally turned things around,” says Andreas Englisch in the podcast: “But it’s also clear that for many this doesn’t go far enough.”

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Source: Stern

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