GERMANY: Yesterday's complex homily was not suited to the pope's young audience, writes Paddy Agnew
On Saturday in Cologne Pope Benedict XVI told representatives of Germany's Islamic communities he was sure they shared his concern about "the spread of terrorism", calling it "a perverse and cruel decision which shows contempt for the sacred right to life".
Speaking on the third day of his visit to Cologne for the World Youth Day celebrations, he said: "Those who instigate and plan these attacks evidently wish to poison our relations, making use of all means, including religion, to oppose every attempt to build a peaceful, fair and serene life together."
Meeting leaders of the 3.3 million strong, mainly Turkish Islamic communities in Germany, the pope said that Christians and Muslims must learn from the historical shame of wars waged between them "in the name of God".
Arguing that there is "plenty of scope" for Christians and Muslims to act together "in the service of fundamental moral values", he told the Muslim leaders they had a great responsibility for the "formation of the younger generation".
Pope Benedict went on to suggest that dialogue between Christians and Muslims, rather than being "an optional extra" is in fact "a vital necessity, on which in large measure our future depends".
Responding to the pope, Ridvan Cakir, president of the Turkish-Islamic Union in Germany, touched on the issue of Turkey's candidacy to join the European Union, saying Turkey offers a remarkable example of different religions and cultures living in harmony. For that reason, said Mr Cakir, Turkey's candidacy is an important opportunity.
One year ago, of course, Pope Benedict - then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - had opposed Turkish entry into the EU, saying it comes from a "different continent, always in contrast with Europe".
Asked if he felt his words had changed Pope Benedict's mind, Mr Cakir replied: "Who knows what goes on in the mind of a man."
Another of the Islamic representatives, Dr Nadeem Elyas, had earlier handed the pope a message in which he affirmed that terrorism "is our common enemy", adding that Islam needs to assess its "own historical faults".
The pope's meeting with the Muslim leaders on Saturday followed Friday's meetings, first in a synagogue with Cologne's Jewish community and later with Protestant and Orthodox Christian clerics.
Along with his addresses to the million or so who attended the world youth event, and put in the context of his overall "media performance" over the last few days, these meetings have offered a clear indication of what to expect from this pontificate.
Pope Benedict is no "funky pontiff" in the style of his predecessor John Paul II.
Faced with the microphones and cameras of the world's media, he tends to look like a retiring, shy academic - which indeed he is.
He is not God's showman, blessed with the common touch, easy humour and apt one-liners of his predecessor.
Furthermore, his homily at yesterday's set-piece Mass, while intellectually provocative, was perhaps too theological, abstract and complex for his audience.
Like the academic he is, Pope Benedict has also studiously avoided any autobiographical note over the last four days. Yet, given his experience as an eyewitness to the rise and fall of Nazism, such a note might have struck a strong chord.
His use of the term "neo-paganism" to define Nazism when speaking to the Jews, his reminders about the "sacred ministry" when talking to Lutherans and his call for Muslims to pay attention to the education of the young were all important, if familiar, markers.
All in all, the last few days have told us that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Pope Benedict XVI are one and the same person - shy, retiring and patently good natured but rigidly orthodox theologically and not given to radical innovation.