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Pope Benedict XVI
Photo: Marijan Murat / dpa
After the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
high-ranking politicians and theologians have expressed their condolences - and sometimes voiced cautious criticism.
In the words of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the world is losing "a clever theologian".
»As a ›German‹ pope, Benedict XVI.
for many, not only in this country, a special church leader," wrote the SPD politician on Twitter.
»The world loses a formative figure of the Catholic Church, a controversial personality and a clever theologian.
My thoughts are with Pope Francis.«
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) expressed himself more clearly.
He praised the pope as a "modest pastor" who gave "many people strength and guidance."
"At the same time, he also had to take responsibility for difficult phases in his work," Söder wrote on Twitter.
The tenure of Pope Benedict XVI
was overshadowed by the investigation of an abuse scandal that plunged the Catholic Church into a deep crisis.
In 2022, his own handling of cases of abuse during his time as Archbishop of Munich and Freising made the headlines.
An abuse report commissioned by the Archdiocese of Munich accused him of misconduct in four cases.
Benedict was Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982.
In February 2022, he apologized to all victims of sexual abuse in a public letter.
Georg Bätzing, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, also referred to the incidents in his condolences.
For him, the late Pope Benedict XVI.
"an impressive theologian and experienced pastor".
The Bishop of Limburg announced that the Catholics mourned the loss of a personality who gave hope and direction to the Church even in difficult times.
"Pope Benedict made the voice of the gospel audible - whether convenient or not." He thinks back to Benedict's courageous decision to resign in 2013 with great respect.
But Bätzing also recalled the letter with which Benedikt reacted to the publication of the Munich abuse report earlier this year.
"He asked forgiveness from those affected and yet questions remained unanswered," says Bätzing.
»But today we remember him as a human being«
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner paid tribute to the Pope's achievements.
"The first German pope in 482 years passed away today," wrote the FDP chairman on Twitter.
And: »Benedict XVI.
was a historical personality and a not uncontroversial intellectual.
But today we commemorate him as a human being.«
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the modesty of Pope Benedict XVI.
out.
"His faith, his intellect, his wisdom and his human modesty have always impressed me deeply," Steinmeier explained.
On the subject of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, however, the Federal President also attributed a special "responsibility" to the deceased.
At the latest when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Ratzinger was confronted with the problem “and its systematic cover-up”.
»Benedikt knew about the great suffering of the victims and the immense damage to the credibility of the church.«
The canon lawyer Thomas Schüller said that Benedict XVI.
alienated with the modern world.
He never completed the Enlightenment and the modern turn to free societies and instead proclaimed the program of escapism for the Church.
It is therefore inaccurate when his fans describe him as the "Mozart of theology".
lmd/dpa