<P> With the election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, the Church saw so far largely a continuation of the policies of his predecessor, John Paul II, with some notable exceptions . Benedict decentralized beatifications, and reverted the decision of his predecessor regarding papal elections . In 2007 he set a Church record by approving the beatification of 498 Spanish Martyrs . His first encyclical Deus caritas est discussed the nature of love and how it informs one's participation in a just society . In an address at the University of Regensburg, Germany, Benedict maintained that in the Western world, to a large degree, only positivistic reason and philosophy are valid . Yet the world's profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine, as an attack on their most profound convictions . A concept of reason which excludes the divine, is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures, according to Benedict . During this Regensburg address Benedict quoted a Byzantine emperor who said Muhammad had brought the world only things "evil and inhuman". After the Pope explained his quote, the dialogue continued, with cordial meetings of Islam representatives in Turkey, and the ambassadors of Muslim countries in 2007 . A May 2008 declaration agreed on between Benedict and Muslims, led by Mahdi Mostafavi, stressed that religion is essentially non-violent and that violence can be justified neither by reason nor by faith . Pope Benedict has spoken out against human rights abuses in China, Darfur, and Iraq and encouraged protection of the environment and the poor . He spoke strongly against drug dealers in Latin America and Catholic politicians supporting abortion laws . </P> <P> In 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified the Catholic Church's position vis - a-vis other Christian communities . Quoting the statement of Pope Paul VI: "What the Church has taught down through the centuries, we also teach: that there is only one Church", the Vatican insisted that while communities separated from the Catholic Church can be instruments of salvation, only those with apostolic succession can be properly termed "churches". Some Protestants representatives were not surprised, others announced themselves insulted by the document, which also stressed the Church's commitment to ecumenical dialogue . A Church official told Vatican radio that any dialogue is facilitated when parties are clear about their identity . Important ethical decisions during the pontificate of Benedict XVI involved continued nutrition and hydration for persons in a vegetative status . While making many exceptions, the Church ruled that "the provision of water and food, even by artificial means, always represents a natural means for preserving life ." </P>

Changes in the catholic church over the years