Osnabrueck, Germany - German Catholic leaders reached out to Jews on Thursday at the start of a Catholic convention in the northern city of Osnabrueck, saying they sympathized with Jewish complaints about a new Latin prayer.

Jewish groups were upset this year when the Vatican permitted hyper-conservative Catholic congregations to pray in Latin that Jews may "acknowledge Jesus Christ, the saviour of all men." Most Catholics use newer prayers and do not pray in Latin.

Hans Joachim Meyer, president of Germany's national Catholic committee, which organizes the biannual convention, said his group had written to Pope Benedict XVI in February protesting.

Jewish groups consider it offensive for Catholics to desire to convert Jews to Christianity.

Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrueck, hosting the festival-style convention which will continue till Sunday, said Benedict's ulterior intent had been to conciliate the pro-Latin traditionalists, but "I don't believe that has been achieved."

The new chairman of the Conference of German Catholic Bishops, Robert Zollitsch, is to lead a joint Christian and Jewish religious service at the convention on Thursday. Several Jewish scholars have said they will skip the convention to show their anger at Rome.

More than 60,000 people were expected to take their pick among 1,200 separate events at the Catholic lay convention, which features a mix of panel discussions, concerts and unconventional worship.

Fringe views and non-Catholic speakers are a regular element of the German conventions. Chancellor Angela Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran minister, was due to speak at an event on Thursday and Islamic speakers are also on the programme. (dpa)