Europe beset by self-pity, Pope says in first interview

[emad]

Luke Harding in Berlin
Tuesday August 16, 2005
The Guardian


In his first interview as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI warned yesterday that Europe was caught up in a crisis of "self-pity" and lacked belief.

Speaking ahead of World Youth Day in Cologne, which begins today, the Pope said he hoped to inject new faith into the thousands of young pilgrims gathering in Germany. But he also spoke about the problems facing the Catholic church, saying that in "modern western society" there were many "lead weights" that were turning people away from Christianity.

"We hope that the meeting of so many people from all continents will give a new impetus to the old continent," the Pope said in an unprecedented interview with Vatican Radio. He added: "We are almost caught up in a kind of self-pity and self-condemnation." Europe had lost touch with its roots, the Pope said, and was instead sliding into "inevitable contradictions".

"I believe that this civilisation, with all its dangers and hopes, can only be tamed and led back to greatness if it recognises again the sources of its power."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1549674,00.html

[Ripley]

1. Yes, insight and reflection after WWII made them...

Pity-partiers. :eyes:

Is the Pope the Devil?

[emad]

2. He's in Germany on World Hitler Youth Day today....

Maybe a bit tired & emotional.

[Scurrilous]

6. Correction: World Youth Day.

Maybe you're a bit tired and emotional and see Hitlers where none exist.


World Youth Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Youth_Day

[emad]

7. Never felt better!

And never been a member - unlike Papa Ratzi and his Nazi youth squad membership.

[Boomer]

3. Lead weights, eh?

Well, he should know, being one himself.

[wake.up.america]

4. In case anyone is interested in information concerning the birthplace...

of the Pope Marktl am Inn, feel free to ask me.

I hope to be translating for the town council.

[zanne]

5. He's a disaster for the Church...

He's already causing division in the Church because of his rightwing social and political views. And this is going to keep happening for the rest of his life.

[Boomer]

8. Yup, I've seen the fallout already

Several of my friends are still fervent Catholics (unlike my lapsed self) and said they could accept any pope... except Ratzinger.

His election has thrown them into spiritual conflict -- they want to remain faithful to the Church, but they find his views repugnant and antithetical to what they value most in their faith.

I'm sorry for their distress, but he only underscores my reasons for leaving. At some point there is simply too great a divide, too many principles that I do not accept, which means I cannot call myself a Catholic. The "change from within" only goes so far.

[ElectroPrincess]

9. Perhaps after enduring his leadership, The Catholic Church will

come back to center? I hope. :-)