No “DIY” religion please, we’re Catholics – Pope

By Philip Pullella and Alexandra Hudson

COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) – Pope Benedict, wrapping up a
triumphant return to his German homeland, on Sunday urged young
people to shun a “do-it-yourself” concept of religion where
they can choose what they want and disregard the rest.

A crowd of up to a million young people cheered the Pope at
the last major event of his trip — an open-air mass outside
the city to conclude the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day.

Most had spent the chilly night in tents and sleeping bags,
singing and praying in a festive atmosphere before the Pope
arrived to say the Mass along with some 800 bishops.

Mostly in their teens and early 20s, the crowd rose to
their feet when Benedict arrived in a popemobile to close the
latest edition of the youth event started by his predecessor
John Paul 20 years ago. They swayed and sang: “Jesus Christ,
you are my life.”

In his homily, read in five languages, Benedict used
general principles to press his point, in contrast to John Paul
who often spoke to youth specifically about sexual morality.

He asked them not to see religion as a “consumer product”
where people choose only what they want from it and disregard
rules that are sometimes difficult to observe.

“Religion constructed on a ‘do-it-yourself’ basis cannot
ultimately help us,” he said. “It may be comfortable but at
times of crisis we are left to ourselves.”

The impression left to the listener was that the new Pope
was trying to preach without finger-wagging.

“Freedom is not simply about enjoying life in total
autonomy, but rather living by the measure of truth and
goodness, so that we ourselves can become true and good,” he
said.

MIXED REVIEWS

Asked what he felt about the Pope’s words warning against
pick-and-choose Catholicism, Malte Schubert, a 19-year-old
German, said: “That means no sex, basically, doesn’t it? He has
to say that. He is the Pope, but I think people should make
their own choices.”

There were also many in the crowd who agreed with the Pope.

“I am part of a movement for devotion to the Virgin Mary.
We strictly follow the teachings of the Church. The Pope is
right to warn against do-it-yourself religion, it should be all
or nothing,” said Nuno Gonzago, 20, from Portugal.

The Pope urged his listeners not to see Sunday Mass as an
inconvenience and to build their dream for a better world by
helping those less fortunate, particularly the sick and
elderly.

The Pope, whose reserved style could have dampened the
boisterous atmosphere of the festival that his charismatic
predecessor dominated, has played his new public role without a
slip and seemed to enjoy it at times.

The visit has allowed the Pope to show the softer side that
his supporters say he has. Before his election in April, Joseph
Ratzinger headed the Church department that oversees doctrine
and was often depicted by the media as being cold and harsh.

The trip also gave the Pope an opportunity to push ahead on
his efforts to continue dialogue with other religions.

On Friday he made an historic visit to Cologne’s synagogue,
which had been destroyed by the Nazis in 1938, and warned of
the threat of new anti-Semitism.

He told Muslim leaders on Saturday they had a duty to help
defeat terrorism and turn back the “wave of cruel fanaticism”
that falsely uses religion to instigate hate.

The Pope returns to Rome later on Sunday after meeting
German bishops.