Popes, Parades, and Prayers: The Pope's German Adventures (in the Neighboring State)
Events Combine: Pope's Visit Marked by Study, Exhibition, and Carnival - Pope's Visit, Nationwide Gathering, Fasting Period: Details During the Pope's Stay in the Country
When it comes to the popes gracing the lands of Rhineland-Palatinate, the visits are infrequent — so infrequent, in fact, that many of its citizens haven't had the pleasure of meeting one. Despite this, the popes have left an indelible mark. Whether in reality or as a vibrant carnival float, they've managed to make quite an impression. But will the reign of Pope Leo XIV from the USA bring a change to this trend? Let's take a look at the popes' previous visits to this state.
John Paul II's German Expeditions
John Paul II's footsteps amidst the German soil were the first to be seen in 198 years, making him a pioneer of sorts. In November 1980, his journey began in Cologne, where he praised the German weather, saying, "It's a different kind of weather than in Italy." After that, he graced the state capital of Mainz, where he met notables Cardinal Hermann Volk and Karl Lehmann. The next year, he returned to Rhineland-Palatinate and met with then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Speyer, beating the faith of two martyrs from the Nazi period. The sermon he delivered in Speyer was a fervent call for uniting Europe from the Atlantic to the Ural Mountains, embracing shared responsibility before God and respecting all fundamental values.
A Fast-Paced Visit in Speyer
John Paul II's second visit to Rhineland-Palatinate lasted only around seven hours. Bishop Anton Schlembach, at the time, described it as "a century event for the cathedral city and the entire diocese." Around 60,000 believers eagerly gathered to witness the Mass he celebrated in front of Speyer's cathedral.
For the period he spent in Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate was the closest the pope came. The Mainz carnivalists have forever immortalized him in the Rosenmontag parade, where Pope Francis, a figure in the parade, sends ultra-conservative Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller away on a rocket.
A Pope Before He Was Pope in Boppard
Before he became the leader of the Catholic Church, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) honed his command of the German language at the Goethe Institute in Boppard in 1985. During this time, he spent several months with the Schmidt family. His stay in Germany was not a positive one, as he frequently felt out of place and spent extensive time wandering among cemeteries.
A Visit Across the Border
Recent times have seen the Pope's life barely touch Rhineland-Palatinate. Yet,Come September 2024, the pope will visit neighboring Luxembourg, and devout locals from Germany are expected to make the trek as well. As usual, the pope will travel in his Popemobile through the heart of the city.
A Private Audience with the Pope
Although the Pope hasn't visited Rhineland-Palatinate, politicians have endeavored to bridge the gap. Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) embarked on a trip to Rome for a private audience with the Pope earlier in the year. This encounter fulfilled a lifelong desire for Schweitzer, a Catholic and former altar boy, as he described his moment with the head of the Catholic Church as "a day that is personally very special for me." They laughed heartily, and Pope shared amusing anecdotes that Schweitzer would never reveal.
- Pope
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Carnival
- Speyer
- Mainz
- John Paul II
- Germany
- Rhine
- Catholic Church
- Cologne
- Boppard
- Benedict XVI
- USA
- Ramstein
- Baumholder
- News
- Rain
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Minister President
- Cemetery
- Bishop
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller
- Goethe Institute
- Holy Roman Empire
- Medieval Period
- Reformation
- World War I
- 1930s
- Treaty of Versailles
- European unity
- In contrast to the infrequent visits of popes to Rhineland-Palatinate, John Paul II marked the first steps of a pope on German soil in 1980, almost 190 years since the previous one.
- During a previous visit to Speyer, John Paul II urged unity among Europeans, extending from the Atlantic to the Ural Mountains, and the respect of shared fundamental values.
- Pope Francis, a renowned figure in the Rhineland-Palatinate carnival parade, was depicted sending ultra-conservative Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller away on a rocket in the Rosenmontag parade.
- Ahead of his pontificate, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) honed his German language skills at the Goethe Institute in Boppard, experiencing a difficult stay with the Schmidt family in 1985.
- Although Pope Leo XIV from the USA has yet to visit Rhineland-Palatinate, Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) recently had a private audience with the pope in Rome, fulfilling a lifelong desire and sharing hearty laughter and amusing anecdotes with the head of the Catholic Church.
