Archbishop of Berlin set to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to German capital
Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday arrives in Germany for his third visit to his homeland
since becoming Pope. This week’s apostolic journey will be his first State Visit
to the country, and will take him to the capital, Berlin.
“It makes me proud
to be a host for Pope Benedict XVI,” said Archbishop Rainer-Maria Woelki of Berlin.
“In the last weeks, I jumped on the bandwagon of preparations, and experienced so
much cheerful anticipation in the communities and facilities, even by those who are
really busy with them.”
Unlike his previous visits to Germany, which were to
predominantly Catholic areas of the country, this trip takes him to the heartland
of Protestant Germany. In the capital itself, even professed Christians are a minority.
Archbishop Woelki noted protests have even been planned at the Pope’s arrival.
“I
once again invite everyone to listen first to what the Pope has to say, and then to
pass judgement,” the Archbishop said. “When Benedict XVI lands in Berlin on September
22, he will be welcomed as the Vatican’s head of state, as well as the highest priest
of the Catholic Church. But he also visits Berlin as a great European, and universal
intellectual and example of belief. I am convinced that it is worth it to listen
to what he has to say, even as a critical mind, even when not everyone agrees with
everything.”