Not all old gentlemen or at least their views deserve tolerance. Due respect for old age yes,but wisdom does not always grow with the years and senior citizens should not automatically be without challenge or criticism.

This particular gentleman was a member of the Hitler Youth. Some may say it was difficult not to be and thats probably true however any person with Nazi credentials, however 'enforced' upon them, should not be holding public office let alone be a Head of State and an alleged spiritual leader. In addition we can't afford to spend such sums in a recession, Head of State or not. We should have asked for a healthy contribution from the Catholic Churches coffers. They're not short of a bob or two.

On the other issues that the Catholic Church is famous for, ie homophobia, anti women, anti contraception even in Third World countries where AIDs is rife and the death rate high, and of course that little matter of covering up child abuse and other crimes such as the systematic torture of young children in convent schools( a work colleague today told us she was tied over a barrel and beaten because she wet the bed at 6 years old in a convent boarding school), there is no need for words as no words would be good enough. Pope Benedict as most popes before him, have assisted with the cover up of such crimes for many years and are insisting that the matters are dealt with 'in house' as they above the law. If this was another Head of State with this sort of record I doubt whether they would be allowed in.

Lets hope thats it for another 30 years.