Pope's visit sounds note of Catholic-Lutheran unity

Pope John Paul II extended a gesture of reconciliation to Protestants and told German Lutherans the Roman Catholic Church accepts partial blame for the conflict provoking the Reformation. Later, the Lutherans repaid his gesture with one of their own -- announcing they agreed to form a commission to study possible unity between the two churches.

The Pope also spoke to Jewish leaders, saying Catholics and Jews could work together for peace and justice.