Cardinal Ratzinger criticises Cardinal Lehmann

The Head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, has criticised German church life and slammed the first ecumenical church assembly, or Kirchentag, which was held in Berlin in May.

Cardinal Ratzinger said he had found the Kirchentag 'without clarity' and also called German lay organisations bureaucratic and said they showed no sign of the 'joy of faith.'

'It was more a self-celebration and self-enjoyment,' he said. 'The face of Christ the crucified, calling us to discipleship and leading us to resurrection, did not appear enough.'

His view was backed by Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne but the head of the German bishops' conference, Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz, said Cardinal Ratzinger's comments were 'hurtful.'