Photo Gallery Benedict Loses His Flock
Benedict XVI's visit to Germany this week will do little to heal the deep divide between conservatives and reformers in the German Church.
When Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005, Catholics in Germany joyfully celebrated the first German pope in almost 500 years. Here, cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave in Vatican City in April 2005.
Since then, the euphoria has turned to disappointment and disillusionment. Here, members of the German Bishops Conference celebrate mass in Freiburg (2010 photo).
Pope Benedict XVI infuriated Muslims around the world with comments he made about Islam in 2006. Here, protests in Karachi, Pakistan (Sept. 2006 photo).
There is a growing conservatism within the Catholic Church, including among young people. Here, World Youth Day in Madrid in August 2011.
During his visit to Berlin this week, Benedict will meet German President Christian Wulff (seen here with Cardinal Reinhard Marx), a practicing Catholic who divorced and remarried.
