In his speech to the German Parliament in Berlin the Pope claimed that the Nazis took Gernany to “the edge of the abyss”. He used Nazi Germany as an example of “power divorced from right”. He said it was when the state became “an instrument for destroying right”. He labelled the Nazis a “band of criminals”.
During his 4 day visit he warned that Germans are growing apathetic and giving priority to utilitarian concerns. 30% of 80 million Germans are Catholics, but the numbers are shrinking. He implied that bad things happened to Germany when it turned its back on religion, i. e. the Nazis.
This is a twentieth century perspective following World War I. But what about the 30 Years’ War? What about the time when German Catholics and Protestants murdered each other? Worse things have been done in the name of religion than Heinrich Himmler would dream of.