German Bishops send condolences for Helmut Kohl
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| Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.- REUTERS |
(Vatican Radio) The President of the German Bishops'
Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has sent a message of condolence following
the death of the former German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, who died on Friday. In
the message he wrote, "the Church in Germany is grateful for the Christian
testimony of Helmut Kohl. Wherever the values of a free society were trampled
on in the world, he pledged that these values be respected. He wanted and
knew how to show his Christian convictions in Europe. "
Among his priorities, the Cardinal added, he "worked
for a social market economy founded on the Church's social doctrine."
Chancellor Kohl, recalls Cardinal Marx was a regular guest of the
Katholikentag. With courage and perseverance, the cardinal emphasized, the
chancellor, combined with visionary force had the "great ability to
negotiate German unity".
At the same time, recalled the president of the German
Bishops' Conference, he was "the chancellor of the European idea" and
played a major and decisive role in the growth of a united Europe without
frontiers. " Kohl, who also played a central role in the Treaty of
Maastricht, had repeatedly stressed that Germany and Europe are "two faces
of the same coin", the cardinal said.
In the message of condolence, the cardinal also
recalled the meetings of Chancellor Kohl with Pope John Paul II during the
visits of the Pontiff in Germany in 1987 and 1996, when they visited the
Brandenburg Gate.
"The Catholic Church in Germany, said Cardinal Marx,
was pained at news of Mr Kohl's death but was grateful for his Christian
witness.
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