German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presents the latest encyclical «Fides et Ratio» of Pope John Paul II during a press conference in the Vatican 15 October 1998. The pontiff pleads in this encyclical for a bridging of the gap between faith and reason and warns against nihilism and certain trends of modern thinking. AFP PHOTO GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)