After the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Chancellor Scholz emphasizes his role as a "defining figure" and "quarrelsome personality". CSU boss Söder even sees him as one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. An overview of the first reactions.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. emphasized its importance for Germany. "As a 'German' Pope, Benedict XVI was a special church leader for many, not only in this country," explained the SPD politician on Twitter. "The world is losing a formative figure in the Catholic Church, a controversial personality and a clever theologian."
The chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Friedrich Merz, reacted with great dismay to the death of the former patriarch. The CDU and the Union faction mourned the longstanding head of the Catholic Church, said Merz. He explained: "Pope Benedict was able to trigger a new orientation towards the Catholic Church across all generations, especially in his home country of Germany. We bow in sadness and gratitude to the life's work of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI."
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder paid tribute to Benedict XVI. honored as a "convincing representative of the Catholic Church". "The death of Benedict XVI touches me, like many people in Bavaria and all over the world," said the CSU leader. With him, society has lost one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century.
"In turbulent and challenging times, he was the religious head of the Catholic faithful," said Söder. "Many people in his home country will remember him not only as Pope Benedict XVI, but also as a humble pastor. He gave many people strength and orientation." At the same time, Benedict XVI. also have to take responsibility for difficult phases in his work.
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner also emphasized his achievements after the death of the emeritus pope. "The first German pope in 482 years passed away today," wrote the FDP chairman on Twitter. And: "Benedict XVI was a personality steeped in history and a not undisputed intellectual. But today we commemorate him as a human being."
Former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert praised the "outstanding importance" of the theologian Benedict XVI. He remembers two events in Germany: "His big, brilliant dispute with Jürgen Habermas from 2004 in the Catholic Academy in Munich about faith and reason as defining characteristics of Western culture and his memorable speech in the German Bundestag on September 22, 2011 as part of his official visit to Germany," said Lammert. Both are documents of a rare combination of intellectual brilliance and personal modesty. Benedict was the first pope to speak in the Bundestag on a trip to Germany in 2011.
According to a Vatican spokesman, Benedict XVI, who came from Bavaria, was died at 9.34 am on Saturday in a residence in the former Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens. In February 2013, he resigned from the office of Pope in a highly unusual move for health reasons. With his resignation, he wrote church history: Benedict was the first pope since 1415 to resign as head of the Catholic Church.
A few days ago, his health had deteriorated sharply. On Wednesday, Pope Francis asked for prayers for his "very ill" predecessor. "My thoughts are with Pope Francis," wrote Chancellor Scholz.
