Church – Munich – Knobloch: Benedict’s role in church history unique – Bavaria
Munich (AP) – The deceased Pope Benedict XVI. occupies a special place in church history from Charlotte Knobloch’s point of view. “Pope Benedict’s role in modern church history was unique, and his work in Bavaria was profound. His traces will be recognizable for a long time, and he himself will not be forgotten,” said the President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria on Saturday. She praised Benedict’s resignation as pontiff in 2013 as a “step that deserves recognition for its historical significance”.
He “not only significantly shaped this church, but also maintained an intensive exchange with representatives of the Jewish community,” said Knobloch about the divine Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. “As a person of spirit and word, it was important to him that this dialogue was not just conducted for the sake of dialogue – it had to have substance and purpose.”
The same language was not spoken in all matters, said the former chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. “Nevertheless, some questions remained unanswered. The respect that Joseph Ratzinger and later Benedict XVI had for people was always palpable.”
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