U-turn by the Pope over other 'inferior' religions'

CLOAKED in the bright robes of the papacy, Pope Benedict XVI used his first public mass to dispel his image as a dark Vatican enforcer, by stating his desire to have open dialogue with other world faiths and cultures.

As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Pope’s doctrinal watchdog, he had dismissed other religions as inferior to Roman Catholicism. Yesterday in the Sistine Chapel, as the 264th successor to St Peter, he said he welcomed everyone with "simplicity and love".

Speaking in front of Michelangelo’s fresco of The Last Judgment, and resplendent in golden vestments and mitre, the new leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics reached out to his critics.

He said: "I welcome everybody with simplicity and love to assure them that the Church wants to continue in open and sincere dialogue with them, in search of the true good of man and society."

The new Pope, who is 78, the oldest pontiff for almost 300 years, also gave an insight into his personal feelings about the monumental responsibility that fell on his shoulders on Monday evening, when he was elected as the successor to John Paul II after just four ballots. He said he felt "inadequacy and human turmoil" at his fellow cardinals’ decision.

The election, in one of the swiftest conclaves for a century, was widely seen as reflecting the cardinals’ determination to maintain continuity with John Paul II’s strong rule. Although the new Pope has in the past harshly dismissed other denominations as deficient, he said yesterday that theological dialogue was necessary and committed himself to contacts with other Christian churches.

His first official speech as Pope, which was delivered in Latin, was a commitment to continue moves launched by his predecessors to engage in dialogue with all religions and cultures as already urged by Muslim and Jewish leaders.

"I will spare no effort and commitment to continue the promising dialogue with other civilisations that was started by my venerable predecessors," he said.

A clearer insight into Cardinal Ratzinger’s reaction to his election in the secret conclave also emerged yesterday. Despite being considered a favourite, the future Pope was described by Cardinal Joachim Meisner as looking "a little forlorn" during the election as his votes began to climb. Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday that his "sense of inadequacy" was partially absolved by feeling the presence of the late John Paul II, his close friend.

The Pope said: "I seem to feel his strong hand holding mine, I can see his smiling eyes and hear his words, at this moment particularly directed at me, ‘Be not afraid’."

The new Pope was said to appear upset as he entered "the room of tears" where the papal vestments are laid out. The room is so named as many previous popes have wept at the enormity of their task. However, Pope Benedict XVI emerged looking much brighter, according to Cardinal Meisner who said: "By the time dinner came around, Ratzinger was looking much better and very much like the Pope."

A celebratory dinner of bean soup, cold meats, salad and fruit was then served for the cardinals and their new Pope and the meal was concluded with ice- cream and champagne.

In the opinion of Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, who was considered to be a papal candidate, the swiftness of the election was a sign of trust in their new leader.

"At least two-thirds of the cardinals voted for him. I see the fast election as a sign of deep trust," said the cardinal.

Italian newspapers yesterday speculated that in the first round, he had reached between 40-50 votes, 60 votes in the second ballot, then came close to a two-thirds majority in the third before finally passing way beyond the 77 votes necessary in the final ballot.

Yesterday a Vatican insider described how Pope Benedict had celebrated his first moments. The source said: "He was being driven back to the residence and people were clapping him as he went past. Then suddenly his car stopped and he got out and walked over to shake hands with everybody.

"He was smiling and said, ‘Pray for me’, and then he thanked us for working at the Vatican. He said, ‘I have known you all for such a long time. I will come and meet you again’."

But the selection of the new Pope has raised concerns that Benedict XVI could polarise the global Church. Rev Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit weekly magazine America, said: "He could be a wedge rather than a unifier for the church."

The election of Cardinal Ratzinger was also greeted with dismay in Turkey, a nation whose membership of the European Union he had argued against - on the grounds that as a democratic Muslim nation it should be a leading light in the Middle East.

Meanwhile in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu described him as a "rigid conservative" who was out of step.

"We would have hoped for someone more open to the more recent developments in the world - the whole question of the ministry of women and a more reasonable position with regards to condoms and HIV/AIDS," said Tutu.

There was, however, a warm welcome from one unexpected quarter. Patriarch Alexiy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has had fractious and difficult relations with the Catholic Church, wished him "God’s help" in leading the Church and hinted at a closer collaboration between the two churches.

Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI has worn "the shoes of the fisherman" for less than 48 hours, yet has already inherited a range of pressing issues. These include priest sex-abuse scandals that have cost the Church millions in settlements in the United States and elsewhere, a chronic shortage of priests and nuns in the West, and calls for lifting a ban on condoms to help fight the spread of AIDS.

The Pope has indicated that, while unlikely to follow the extensive global pilgrimage of John Paul II, he will not be a prisoner of the Vatican. Yesterday he announced that he will attend World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in August, which will also serve as his first visit as Pope to his native country.

Yesterday, the Church of Scotland said it welcomed the Pope’s statement about open dialogue with other faiths.

Rev Erik Cramb, convener of the committee for ecumenical relations, said that they were aware of the cardinal’s reputation as a "hardman" and that this made the content of his first public statement all the more welcome.

"That he is saying he wants greater dialogue with other churches is certainly very welcome. I think that by greater dialogue we can shape each others’ views."