Pope Benedict XVI sets sail on Rhine
German-born Pope Benedict XVI took to the broad Rhine river to preach to his flock from the bow of a cruise ship on his homecoming trip to his native land - his first foreign trip as Pope.
Hundreds of thousands of people attending the Roman Catholic World Youth festival jammed both banks to hear him speak during a stop in front of a large meadow with the city’s trademark, twin-spired cathedral as a backdrop.
It was a theatrical gesture at the start of a journey emphasising outreach to Jews and Muslims and evangelising a Europe some feel has drifted from its Christian heritage.
Benedict was to later visit the city’s synagogue, rebuilt after being destroyed by the Nazis, and to a meeting with Muslim leaders.
“Visiting a synagogue is close to my heart, and also the greeting of members of the Islamic community,” he said during his arrival remarks at the airport.
“These are meetings to proceed more intensively on the way of dialogue in the common effort to build a just and brotherly future,” he said. “We all know how very important it is to seek this path.”
The strong wind pulled off his white papal skullcap as he got off the plane, blowing it back inside the cabin. He reached for it in vain and decided to go on with the ceremonial welcome hatless.
Benedict landed to a subdued arrival, compared to some of the ecstatic greetings received by his charismatic predecessor, John Paul II. He skipped John Paul II’s trademark habit of kissing the ground, and only a few hundred enthusiastic admirers were brought to the airport.
The wind also toppled the World Youth Day cross from the bow of the cruise ship, breaking one of its arms. The cross was first used during World Youth Day in 2000 in Rome and has been carried around the world by Catholic youth groups, was quickly fixed.
Despite his quieter entrance, the waiting crowd – watching on a large television screen in front of the cathedral – cheered wildly and chanted, “Benedict, Benedict!”
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Horst Koehler greeted Benedict on the red carpet as he descended from the plane, which had German and Vatican flags hanging from the cockpit windows.
It is the first homecoming for Benedict since his April 19 election. He was born in Marktl Am Inn in the state of Bavaria and served as archbishop of Munich.
Younger Roman Catholics have known only one Pope – John Paul II, who died on April 2 after serving 27 years – and many are curious to see how his successor, a former theology professor and Vatican doctrine official, will connect with the faithful at the festival.
John Paul II, who founded World Youth Day as a way to evangelise young people, was still very much on people’s minds, especially among those who were at his last World Youth Day appearance two years ago in Toronto. Many made their plans to come while John Paul II was still alive and had hoped to see him.
Benedict paid tribute to his “great and beloved predecessor” and said he was thankful to be able to address such a throng of young people.
“The meeting of so many young people with the successor of Peter is a sign of the vitality of the church,” he said.
