German Chancellor urges unity, rediscovery of faith ahead of Pope's visit
(September 19, 2011) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday sent a message to
her fellow Christians ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to his homeland this week,
urging them to remember what unites them as secularism advances. The Pope's visit
from Sept. 22-25 will take him to the mostly atheist former East Germany and include
a meeting in Erfurt, one-time home of Protestant reformer Martin Luther, to discuss
ways Catholics and Protestants can work together. "When the Pope visits Germany,
he is also visiting the country of the Reformation," said Merkel, the daughter of
a Lutheran pastor who grew up in the Communist East. Christian unity would be a dominant
theme of the papal visit, she said in a video message on her website. "Religion,”
she stressed, “is the basis on which I and many others, see the dignity of the human
being as sacrosanct and indissoluble. We view humans as God's creation and that guides
us in our political actions." Saying that Christianity is the religion which suffers
the most discrimination around the world, Merkel said the Pope's visit will be a reminder
of Germany’s and Europe's Christian roots, giving the strength and inspiration to
fight against all religious persecution.