GERMANY: A German bishop has described as a "scandal" the refusal of visas to over 1,000 young pilgrims planning to attend World Youth Day in Cologne this week for fear they might not return home.
Over one-third of visa applicants from Nigeria, Cameroon, the Philippines and Togo have been refused by German embassy officials, who have demanded to see proof of applicants' employment, bank account details and, in some cases, land ownership papers.
Bishop Franz Kamphaus of Limburg said the foreign ministry's visa policy, in particular on African nations, "once more affected the poorest continent".
He said he was dismayed at its action, especially after the church agreed a simplified procedure last year to ensure a visa would be granted if applicants produced a letter of participation from a bishop and a return ticket.
Fr Wolfgang Pax, a priest in the diocese of Limburg, said about 600 of the 6,000 pilgrims staying in his parish have been denied visas. "I am deeply disturbed by this development," he said. "Our parish has prepared for more than a year for this visit from foreign guests and has looked forward to it." But Cardinal Karl Lehmann said he understood the German authorities position, pointing out that over 2,000 visitors to World Youth Day in Rome never returned home, and over 800 visitors to the Toronto event in 2003 disappeared.
"Scandal is not a word I would immediately use," said Cardinal Lehmann. Terrorism concerns have also played a role in the tighter procedures. "This is a problem that has become more sensitive through the attacks in London," he said.
The foreign ministry in Berlin said that 394,000 people from more than 190 countries have already registered for the event, with over 300,000 travelling to Cologne from abroad. More than 2,000 young Irish Catholics have arrived in Cologne for the event which organisers hope will attract over one million pilgrims.
As Germany builds up to the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, Bild newspaper published his message to the youth of the world yesterday.
"In these first weeks of a completely new life in my elderly years I am counting on your solidarity, on your clemency, on your prayers," he wrote. "And I feel how that carries me. I thank you for that."