Cardinal Karl Lehmann confident media will correct unjust statements against Benedict XVI

Apr 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The President of the German Bishops Conference, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, expressed his hope that the commentators in the media who have criticized Pope Benedict XVI will correct their opinions after observing his pontificate, reading his books and better studying his past.  Pope Benedict XVI will "convince" the media through his pontificate, the cardinal told German television in an interview from the Vatican.

After the Holy Father expressed his commitment to ecumenism and the unity of Christians during his first Mass as Pope, we hope for "some correction" in the judgment of the media, the cardinal added.

Likewise, Cardinal Lehmann invited members of the media and anyone else intent on passing judgment on the new Pope to "attentively read" his books and better study his past.

Later on during the interview, Cardinal Lehmann described the new Pope as "the living symbol of the continuous witness of the Church."

As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger was responsible for the one of the most delicate tasks of the Church: that of maintaining the substance of the Catholic faith.  "It's practically obvious that, with a variety of simultaneous opinions, even in the Church itself, not everyone would follow him.  Nevertheless, he gained the respect even of those who disagreed with him, through his theological achievements and the recognition of his uncompromising dialogue and confrontation with contemporary forces," said Cardinal Lehmann.

The German cardinal said there was no doubt regarding the Ratzinger's choice of the name Benedict XVI.  Benedict XV was a champion of the social teaching of the Church and worked for reconciliation in the modern world.