Sir, As patron of the International Council of Christians and Jews which, appropriately, has its headquarters in Germany, I have been asked from many quarters about my reaction to the election of a Pope who was a member of the Hitler Youth.

There was no viable option for young men growing up in Nazi Germany not to belong to the Hitler Youth. Many former members went on to build the federal republic, a bastion of democracy. What they experienced first-hand of the evils of Nazism doubtless fuelled their resolve to fight totalitarianism.

In the same way, I am sure that the new Pope will seek to make our world a better place, and I am encouraged by the fact that his very first public statement included an expression of his determination to pursue dialogue with other faiths. He will have ready partners.

It is also good to see that age was no deterrence. This should be an encouragement to all older people, of whose skill and experience many societies fail to take full advantage.

Yours sincerely,
SIGMUND STERNBERG
(Co-Founder),
Three Faiths Forum,
80 East End Road, N3 2SY.
April 21.

From Mr John D. G. Bennett

Sir, It is absurd to criticise the new pontiff just because he was a member of the Hitler Youth. I happen to be the same age as Benedict XVI and in 1936-37 I was a boarder at a school at St Goarshausen, in the Rhineland.

Membership of the Hitler Youth was part of the package which an isolated 9 or 10-year-old was in no position to question. In any case, it involved me in nothing more sinister than long hikes through the very attractive countryside, though we were paraded when Hitler marched into the area.

Yours faithfully,
JOHN D. G. BENNETT,
Birks Wood,
Ghyll Head, Newby Bridge Road,
Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3LL.
April 21.

From the Reverend Raymond Goadby

Sir, As a Protestant who recognises the central role of the Catholic Church, and wishes it well, I am appalled by the choice of new Pope. At a time when the Church desperately needs a visionary and a prophet its leaders have opted for a reactionary and an ecclesiastical tough guy.

The election of Benedict XVI is bad news for women, bad news for gays, bad news for ecumenists, and bad news for all who are striving to interpret the ancient faith to the modern world in a contemporary and relevant way. Instead of the leap of faith so many had been hoping for, the conclave has opted for a big step backwards.

Yours faithfully,
RAYMOND GOADBY,
Bretton,
Hemming Green, Old Brampton,
Chesterfield, Derbyshire S42 7JQ.
April 21.

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