On the second day of his state visit to his homeland, Pope Benedict XVI has praised Martin Luther for having been a passionate Christian.
He was speaking in the east German monastery where the man who inspired the Protestant Reformation studied five centuries ago.
After meeting leaders of German Lutheranism, he urged their followers and Catholics to focus on what united them in a secularised world.
The 84-year-old Pontiff said that what constantly exercised Luther was the question of God, which he described as "the deep passion and driving force" of the reformer's whole life journey.
He warned that the significant progress in improving understanding between the two Christian denominations was threatened by a watering down and destabilisation of the faith.
Later the Pope led an ecumenical service for around 300 invited guests including Chancellor Angela Merkel who is the daughter of a Lutheran pastor.
There have been protests about the Pope's visit to Germany.
Yesterday, peaceful demonstrators behind police barriers rallied against Benedict's views on issues ranging from gay rights to the paedophile priest scandals.
Benedict told reporters demonstrations were "normal in a free society marked by strong secularism."
source
rte
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