Pope gains German respect in first year

BERLIN, April 19 (UPI) -- In his first year as Pope Benedict XVI, German-born Joseph Ratzinger has won over many critics who feared he would live up to the title of "God's Rottweiler."

Contrary to the hard-line image that was so pervasive before his election, Ratzinger's initial appearances as pope were marked with humility, Deutsche Welle reported Wednesday.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, told the ARD public broadcaster his own intuition had been correct.

"I said once before that we had a false image of Ratzinger," Lehmann said. "He is much more sensitive and sophisticated, and it was clear to me that, should he become pope, he would enjoy having other duties and other issues to address."

German Cardinal Walter Kasper also told ARD that Benedict had a calmer leadership style.

"He's brought peace to the Catholic Church," Kasper said. "John Paul II exaggerated many things -- he had too many cardinals, too many saints, too many documents, too many activities."