November 30, 2011

Pope Benedict: support for efforts to eliminate death penalty

    Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday offered his support to a major international meeting underway this week through the sponsorship of the Sant’Egidio Community aimed at eliminating capital punishment: 
   I greet the distinguished delegations from various countries taking part in the meeting promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio on the theme: No Justice without Life. I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.

   The Holy Father’s appeal came at the end of his weekly General Audience, during which he continued his series of catecheses on Christian prayer.

   The Pope on Wednesday focused on how Christ, Himself, prays, saying that Christ’s example most fully reveals the mystery of Christian prayer.

   A significant moment in this regard is Jesus’ prayer following his Baptism, which expresses his both his deepest identity as the Son of God and his solidarity with the sinful humanity whom he came to save. Jesus’ prayer reflects his complete, filial obedience to the Father’s will, an obedience which would lead him to death on the Cross for the redemption of our sins.

   “With his human heart,” said Pope Benedict, “Jesus learned to pray from his Mother and from the Jewish tradition, yet the source of his prayer is his eternal communion with the Father.”

   As the incarnate Son, he shows us perfectly how to pray as children of the heavenly Father. Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a gift of God, it is also an art learned through constant practice.

   Pope Benedict concluded, saying, “Jesus teaches us to pray constantly, but also to bear witness before others of the beauty of prayer, self-surrender and complete openness to God.”

November 27, 2011

Pope on climate change: A credible response is needed

   Pope Benedict XVI appealed for the success of the climate that are opening tomorrow in Durban, South Africa. Speaking to the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict expressed the hope that “all members of the international community might reach agreement on a responsible, credible response,” to the phenomenon of climate change, which he described as “complex” and “disturbing.”
   The Holy Father also asked that leaders’ response be consonant with the spirit and requirements of solidarity, taking into account the needs of the poorest people and future generations. The Holy Father’s appeal came after the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, ahead of which he spoke about the new liturgical season of Advent, which began this weekend with First Sunday Vespers. It was a theme to which he returned in his English-language remarks, as well:
   I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at this Angelus prayer. Today, the Church begins the celebration of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and our spiritual preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Let us heed the message in today’s Gospel by entering prayerfully into this holy season, so that we may be ready to greet Jesus Christ, who is God with us. I wish you all a good Sunday. May God bless all of you!

November 23, 2011

Pope Benedict: Africa a reservoir of life

   "I ask you to join me in commending all Christ’s followers in Africa to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Africa, so that by their witness of fidelity to God’s word, their commitment to the spread of the Gospel and their efforts to build communion, peace and solidarity they can become protagonists of a new season of hope for that great Continent," this was Pope Benedict XVI’s appeal Wednesday during his weekly general audience.
   As per tradition the Holy Father dedicated his first major public appointment since his return from Benin, West Africa, on Sunday to the major themes of this three day Apostolic Voyage, during which he handed his guidelines for the future of the Church there, the post-Synodal Exhortation - Africae Munus - to the people of the continent.
   Reflecting on that moment, Sunday morning during Mass in Cotonou stadium, Pope Benedict said: "The Exhortation gathers the fruits of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome two years ago, and it offers guidelines for the Church’s future mission on the continent. In the light of the Synod, the Church in Africa is called to deepened faith and commitment in the service to reconciliation, justice and peace."
   Earlier in comments in Italian the Holy Father told the pilgrims to the Paul VI audience hall: "In Africa I saw a freshness in their yes to life, a freshness of religious awareness and of hope, a perception of reality in its totality with God and not reduced to a positivism which eventually extinguishes hope. All of this speaks of the presence on that continent of a reservoir of life and vitality for the future, on which we can count, on which the Church can rely."
   One of the indelible images of the apostolic visit was the prayer at the tomb of a great churchman and illustrious son of Benin in Africa: "The unforgettable Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, whose revered memory is alive more than ever in his country, which regards him as a Father of the Nation, and the whole continent."
   Pope Benedict spoke of the need for a spirit of reconciliation on the civil level, which he said "requires an openness to the hope that is animating sociopolitical and economic life of the continent, as I was able underline in the meeting with the political institutions, the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of Religions."
   On that occasion the Holy Father stressed "the hope that should animate the path of the continent, noting that burning desire for freedom and justice, especially in recent months, which animates the hearts of many African peoples."
   "I also stressed the need to build a society in which relations between ethnic groups and religions are characterized by dialogue and harmony. I invited all to be true sowers of hope in every situation and environment."
   The Pope recalled his moving meeting with children: "In the parish church of Santa Rita, I really tasted the joy of living, the joy and enthusiasm of the younger generation who are the future of Africa. Speaking to the ranks of festive children, one of the many resources and wealth of the continent, I pointed to the figure of St. Kizito, a Ugandan boy, who was killed because he wanted to live the gospel, and I urged everyone to bear witness to Jesus with their peers."
   And his visit to the Foyer "Peace and Joy" hospice, of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, a moment of "great emotion, encountering sick and abandoned children, which allowed me to concretely see how love and solidarity know how to make the strength and love of the Risen Christ present in the midst of weakness."
   Finally he greeted pilgrims in various languages, including English: "I offer a cordial greeting to the Sisters of Jesus and Mary taking part in a course of spiritual renewal. I also greet the international group of Marist and Marianist Brothers. My warm welcome likewise goes to the pilgrims from Indonesia. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, including the groups from Nigeria, South Korea and the United States of America, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace."

November 20, 2011

Pope Benedict presents "Africae Munus"

    Pope Benedict XVI's final appointment on the Feast of Christ the King was the Holy Mass he presided over in Cotonou, concelebrating with over 200 Bishops from across the continent.

   To whom, following Mass, he presented the Post -Synodal exhortation: "Africae Munus," which he had already signed the previous day. Veronica Scarisbrick reports:

   The atmosphere was prayerful but joyful in the “Stade de l’amitié,” the friendship stadium just outside Cotonou, the Republic of Benin’s economic capital on Sunday morning.

   It’s a structure which can hold up to 30,000 people . But on Sunday to attend Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI there wasn’t space enough for everyone, 80,000 more spilled out around the stadium. An orderly congregation, not just from Benin but from different parts of Africa, eager to welcome the Successor of Peter. They came from neighbouring countries : Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso Niger. And the languages used during this mass were often local.

   But the outreach of this mass wasn’t just local, it was to the entire African continent.

   Two hundred bishops from across Africa concelebrated. They were here with the Holy Father , on the Feast of Christ the King for a special moment. One during which Benedict XVI would personally present them with a document: the Post Synodal Exhortation 'Africae Munus' of which he’d signed four copies the previous day at the Minor Basilica in nearby Ouidah. One in Latin, the universal language of the Catholic Church, and the remaining three in languages commonly spoken across Africa : French , Portuguese and English.

   This exhortation I mentioned, is the concluding document of the 2009 October Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which took place in the Vatican to discuss the themes of reconciliation, justice and peace..

   Many of the African bishops who were present at the Stadium de L’amitié in Cotonou were the same who attended that Synod. There are 36 Bishop’s conferences across Africa, 7 regional Bishops conferences and a Special Council for Africa.

   We bring you the Pope’s words in English on the occasion of this presentation of the Post Synodal Exhortation which took place following the Eucharistic celebration:

   "One of the first missions of the Church is the proclamation of Jesus Christ and his Gospel ad gentes, that is the evangelization of those at a distance from the Church in one way or another. I hope that this Exhortation will guide you in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus in Africa. It is not just a message or a word. It is above all openness and adhesion to a person: Jesus Christ the incarnate Word. He alone possesses the words of life eternal (cf. Jn 6:68)! Following the example of Christ, all Christians are called to reflect the mercy of the Father and the light of the Holy Spirit. Evangelization presupposes and brings with it reconciliation and it promotes peace and justice."

   As well as those Benedict XVI pronounced in English during mass:

   "On this feast day, we rejoice together in the reign of Christ the King over the whole world. He is the one who removes all that hinders reconciliation, justice and peace. We are reminded that true royalty does not consist in a show of power, but in the humility of service; not in the oppression of the weak, but in the ability to protect them and to lead them to life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). Christ reigns from the Cross and, with his arms open wide, he embraces all the peoples of the world and draws them into unity. Through the Cross, he breaks down the walls of division, he reconciles us with each other and with the Father. We pray today for the people of Africa, that all may be able to live in justice, peace and the joy of the Kingdom of God (cf. Rom 14:17). With these sentiments I affectionately greet all the English-speaking faithful who have come from Ghana and Nigeria and neighbouring countries. May God bless all of you!"

November 19, 2011

Pope to government and religious leaders in Benin

   Pope Benedict met on Saturday morning with Benin's president, members of the government, representatives of the diplomatic corps and of the principle religions of the country, gathered at the Presidential Palace in Cotonou. In his address to the gathering, the Pope urged Africa's leaders not to deprive their people of hope.

 
   Full text of the Pope's speech to members of government, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the principle religions of Benin as follows:
Mr President,
Distinguished civil, political and religious authorities,
Distinguished heads of the diplomatic missions,
Dear Brother Bishops, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
[Solemn greeting in Fon] DOO NOUMI!
   Mr President, you have given me the opportunity of this encounter with this distinguished gathering of personalities. I appreciate this privilege, and I offer you my heartfelt thanks for the kind words which you have just expressed to me in the name of all the people of Benin. I also thank the representative of the institutions present for his words of welcome. Allow me to express my best wishes for all of you who are among the foremost protagonists, in various ways, of Benin’s national life.
   Speaking on other occasions, I have often joined the word hope to the word Africa. I did so in Luanda two years ago as well as in reference to the Synod. The word hope is also found several times in the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus which I am shortly going to sign. When I say that Africa is a continent of hope, I am not indulging in mere rhetoric, but simply expressing a personal conviction which is also that of the Church. Too often, our mind is blocked by prejudices or by images which give a negative impression of the realities of Africa, the fruit of a bleak analysis. It is tempting to point to what does not work; it is easy to assume the judgemental tone of the moralizer or of the expert who imposes his conclusions and proposes, at the end of the day, few useful solutions. It is also tempting to analyze the realities of Africa like a curious ethnologist or like someone who sees the vast resources only in terms of energy, minerals, agriculture and humanity easily exploited for often dubious ends. These are reductionist and disrespectful points of view which lead to the unhelpful “objectification” of Africa and her inhabitants.
   I am aware that words do not always mean the same thing everywhere; but the meaning of hope differs little from culture to culture. A few years have now passed since I dedicated an encyclical letter to Christian hope. To talk of hope is to talk of the future and hence of God! The future has its roots in the past and in the present. The past we know well, regretting its failures and acknowledging its successes. The present we live as well as we can, I hope, for the best with God’s help! It is upon this mixture of many contradictory and complementary elements that we must build with the help of God.
   Dear friends, in the light of this experience which ought to encourage us, I would like to mention two current African realities. The first relates in a general way to the socio-political and economic life of the continent, the second to interreligious dialogue. These realities concern all of us, because this century seems to be coming into being painfully and to struggle to make hope grow in these two particular domains.
   During recent months, many peoples have manifested their desire for liberty, their need for material security, and their wish to live in harmony according to their different ethnic groups and religions. Indeed, a new state has been born on your continent. Many conflicts have originated in man's blindness, in his will to power and in political and economic interests which mock the dignity of people and of nature. Human beings aspire to liberty; then to live in dignity; they want good schools and food for their children, dignified hospitals to take care of the sick; they want to be respected; they demand transparent governance which does not confuse private and public interests; and above all they desire peace and justice. At this time, there are too many scandals and injustices, too much corruption and greed, too many errors and lies, too much violence which leads to misery and to death. These ills certainly afflict your continent, but they also afflict the rest of the world. Every people wishes to understand the political and economic choices which are made in its name. They perceive manipulation and their revenge is sometimes violent. They wish to participate in good governance. We know that no political regime is ideal and that no economic choice is neutral. But these must always serve the common good. Hence we are faced with legitimate demands, present in all countries, for greater dignity and above all for greater humanity. Man demands that his humanity be respected and promoted. Political and economic leaders of countries find themselves placed before important decisions and choices which they can no longer avoid.
   From this place, I launch an appeal to all political and economic leaders of African countries and the rest of the world. Do not deprive your peoples of hope! Do not cut them off from their future by mutilating their present! Adopt a courageous ethical approach to your responsibilities and, if you are believers, ask God to grant you wisdom! This wisdom will help you to understand that, as promoters of your peoples’ future, you must become true servants of hope. It is not easy to live the life of a servant, to remain consistent amid the currents of opinion and powerful interests. Power, such as it is, easily blinds, above all when private, family, ethnic or religious interests are at stake. God alone purifies hearts and intentions.
   The Church does not propose any technical solution and does not impose any political solution. She repeats: do not be afraid! Humanity is not alone before the challenges of the world. God is present. There is a message of hope, hope which generates energy, which stimulates the intellect and gives the will all its dynamism. A former Archbishop of Toulouse, Cardinal Saliège, once said: "to hope is never to abandon; it is to redouble one's activity". The Church accompanies the State and its mission; she wishes to be like the soul of our body untiringly pointing to what is essential: God and man. She wishes to accomplish, openly and without fear, the immense task of one who educates and cares, but above all who prays without ceasing (cf. Lk 18:1), who points to God (cf. Mt 6:21) and to where the authentic man is to be found (cf. Mt 20:26, Jn 19:5). Despair is individualistic. Hope is communion. Is not this a wonderful path that is placed before us? I ask all political and economic leaders, as well those of the university and cultural realms to join it. May you also be sowers of hope!
   I would now like to touch upon the second point, that of interreligious dialogue. I do not think it is necessary to recall the recent conflicts born in the name of God, or deaths brought about in the name of him who is life. Everyone of good sense understands that a serene and respectful dialogue about cultural and religious differences must be promoted. True interreligious dialogue rejects humanly self-centred truth, because the one and only truth is in God. God is Truth. Hence, no religion, and no culture may justify appeal or recourse to intolerance and violence. Aggression is an outmoded relational form which appeals to superficial and ignoble instincts. To use the revealed word, the Sacred Scriptures or the name of God to justify our interests, our easy and convenient policies or our violence, is a very grave fault.
   I can only come to a knowledge of the other if I know myself. I cannot love unless I love myself (cf. Mt 22:39). Knowledge, deeper understanding and practice of one's religion, are therefore essential to true interreligious dialogue. This can only begin by sincere personal prayer on the part of the one who desires to dialogue. Let him go in secret to his private room (cf. Mt 6:6) to ask God for the purification of reason and to seek his blessing upon the desired encounter. This prayer also asks God for the gift to see in the other a brother to be loved and, within his tradition, a reflection of the truth which illumines all people (Nostra Aetate, 2). Everyone ought therefore to place himself in truth before God and before the other. This truth does not exclude and it is not confusion. Interreligious dialogue when badly understood leads to muddled thinking or to syncretism. This is not the dialogue which is sought.
    Despite the steps already taken, we know that sometimes interreligious dialogue is not easy or that it is impeded for various reasons. This does not necessarily indicate failure. There are many forms of interreligious dialogue. Cooperation in social or cultural areas can help people to understand each other better and to live together serenely. It is also useful to know that dialogue does not take place through weakness but because of belief in God. Dialogue is another way of loving God and our neighbour (cf. Mt 22:37) without abdicating what we are.
   Having hope does not mean being ingenuous but making an act of faith in a better future. Thus the Catholic Church puts into action one of the intuitions of the Second Vatican Council, that of promoting friendly relations between herself and the members of non-Christian religions. For decades now, the Pontifical Council dedicated to this task has been creating links, holding meetings and publishing documents regularly in order to foster such a dialogue. In this way the Church strives to overcome the confusion of languages and the dispersal of hearts born of the sin of Babel (cf. Gen 11). I greet all religious leaders who have kindly come here to meet me. I would like to assure them, as well as those from other African countries, that the dialogue offered by the Catholic Church comes from the heart. I encourage them to promote, above all among the young people, a pedagogy of dialogue, so that they may discover that our conscience is a sanctuary to be respected and that our spiritual dimension builds fraternity. True faith leads invariably to love. It is in this spirit that I invite all of you to hope.
   These general ideas may be applied especially to Africa. In your continent, there are many families whose members profess different beliefs, and yet these families remain united. This is not just a unity wished by culture, but it is a unity cemented by a fraternal affection. Sometimes, of course, there are failures, but there are also many successes. In this area, Africa can offer all of us food for thought and thus become a source of hope.
   To finish, I would like to use the image of a hand. There are five fingers on it and each one is quite different. Each one is also essential and their unity makes a hand. A good understanding between cultures, consideration for each other which is not condescending, and the respect of the rights of each one are a vital duty. This must be taught to all the faithful of the various religions. Hatred is a failure, indifference is an impasse, and dialogue is an openness! Is this not good ground in which seeds of hope may be sown? To offer someone your hand means to hope, later, to love, and what could be more beautiful than a proffered hand? It was willed by God to offer and to receive. God did not want it to kill (cf. Gen 4:1ff) or to inflict suffering, but to care and to help live. Together with our heart and our intelligence, our hand too can become an instrument of dialogue. It can make hope flourish, above all when our intelligence stammers and our heart stumbles.
   According to Sacred Scripture, three symbols describe the hope of Christians: the helmet, because it protects us from discouragement (cf. 1 Th 5:8), the anchor, sure and solid, which ties us to God (cf. Heb 6:19), and the lamp which permits us to await the dawn of a new day (cf. Lk 12:35-36). To be afraid, to doubt and to fear, to live in the present without God, or to have nothing to hope for, these are all attitudes which are foreign to the Christian faith (St John Chrysostom, Homily XIV on the Letter to the Romans, 6; PG 45, 941 C) and, I am convinced, to all other forms of belief in God. Faith lives in the present, but it awaits future goods. God is in our present, but he is also in the future, a place of hope. The expansion of our hearts is not only hope in God but also an opening to and care for physical and temporal realities in order to glorify God. Following Peter, of whom I am a successor, I hope that your faith and hope will be in God (cf. 1 Pet 1:21). This is my wish for the whole of Africa, which is so dear to me! Africa, be confident and rise up! The Lord is calling you. May God bless you! Thank you.

November 18, 2011

Pope Benedict arrives in Benin

    Pope Benedict has arrived in Benin at the start of his 48-hour apostolic visit to the West African nation. Here is the full transcript of his arrival address, translated in English, delivered at the international airport of the capital, Cotonou:
"Mr President,
Your Eminence,
Dear President of the Episcopal Conference of Benin,
Civil, Ecclesiastical and Religious Authorities,
Dear Friends,
  I thank you, Mr President, for the warm words of welcome. You know well the affection which I have for your continent and for your country. I was eager to return to Africa, and a threefold motivation has provided the occasion for this Apostolic Journey. First and foremost, Mr President, is your kind invitation to visit your country. Your initiative was received along with that of the Episcopal Conference of Benin. These are auspicious, since they come during the year in which Benin celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, as well the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of her evangelization. While among you, I will have the occasion to meet many people, and I look forward to it. Each of these experiences will be different, and will culminate in the Eucharist which I will celebrate before I leave.
   This Apostolic Journey also fulfils my desire to bring back to African soil the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus. Its reflections will guide the pastoral activities of numerous Christian communities in the coming years. May this document fall into the ground and take root, grow and bear much fruit “in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty”, as Christ himself said (Mt 13:23).
   Additionally, there exists a third reason which is more personal and more emotive. I have long held in high esteem a son of this country, His Eminence Cardinal Bernardin Gantin. For many years, we both worked, each according to his proper competence, labouring in the same vineyard. We both happily assisted my predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, in the exercise of his Petrine ministry. We had many occasions to meet, to engage in profound discussions and to pray together. Cardinal Gantin won the respect and the affection of many. So it seemed right that I should come to his country of origin, to pray before his tomb, and to thank Benin for having given the Church such a distinguished son.
   Benin is a country of ancient and noble traditions. Her history is significant. I am pleased to take this opportunity to greet the traditional Chiefs. Their contribution is important in the construction of the country’s future. I would like to encourage them to contribute, with their wisdom and understanding of local customs, in the delicate transition currently under way from tradition to modernity.
   Modernity need not provoke fear, but neither can it be constructed by neglecting the past. It needs to be accompanied by prudence for the good of all in order to avoid the pitfalls which exist on the African continent and elsewhere, such as unconditional surrender to the law of the market or that of finance, nationalism or exaggerated and sterile tribalism which can become destructive, a politicization of interreligious tensions to the detriment of the common good, or finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values. The transition to modernity must be guided by sure criteria based on recognized virtues, which are listed in your national motto, but equally which are firmly rooted in the dignity of the person, the importance of the family and respect for life. All of these values exist in view of the common good which must take first place, and which must constitute the primary concern of all in positions of responsibility. God trusts in man and desires his good. It is our task to respond, in honesty and justice, to his high expectations.
   The Church, for her part, offers her own specific contribution. By her presence, her prayer and her various works of mercy, especially in education and health care, she wishes to give her best to everyone. She wants to be close to those who are in need, near to those who search for God. She wants to make it understood that God is neither absent nor irrelevant as some would have us believe but that he is the friend of man. It is in this spirit of friendship and of fraternity that I come to your country, Mr President."

November 13, 2011

Pope Benedict: Charity, the fundamental gift

   "God summons every man to life and bestows on him a talent, while entrusting him with a mission", which is charity. Those were Pope Benedict XVI’s words before the Angelus in St Peter’s Square. The Pope reminded those gathered on Sunday that "Charity is the fundamental good that no one can fail to make use of and without which all the other gifts are in vain” before adding that only “by practicing charity, can we also take part in the joy of our Lord.”
   During his address the Holy Father also underlined the fact that because our earthly existence is marked by impermanence our life should be lived as a “pilgrimage” and we should keep our eyes fixed on the ultimate goal, the God who created us.
   Recalling Sunday’s Gospel Pope Benedict also continued on the theme of charity noting that it was our mission to use our talents for the good of others.
   “In today’s Gospel, the parable of the talents, Jesus invites us to reflect with gratitude on the gifts we have received and to use them wisely for the growth of God’s Kingdom. May his words summon us to an ever deeper conversion of mind and heart, and a more effective solidarity in the service of all our brothers and sisters. “
   After reciting the Marian prayer the Holy Father had a number of special greetings in a number of languages.
   In German, the Pope referred to Sunday’s beatification of the priest and martyr Carl Lampert in Dornbirn, who was killed as he put it "in the dark time of National Socialism."
   Speaking in Italian the Pope Benedict also noted it was World Diabetes Day and prayed for those stricken by this illness.
   Giving greetings in Polish the Holy Father recalled that on this November 13th the church in Poland was remembering the Day of Solidarity for the persecuted church which this year is asking for prayers in particular for the church in Sudan.
   Drawing his address to a conclusion the Pope speaking in French invited the faithful to pray for his forthcoming visit to Benin and urged solidarity with those who work for peace, justice and reconciliation on continent of Africa.

November 9, 2011

Pope Benedict appeals for flood victims

   Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday appealed for flood victims in various parts of the world. He said that from Latin America especially Central America to South-East Asia many people had been affected by flooding, and landslides, which had caused numerous deaths, and left many more missing, and homeless.

   Of the countries in Central America that have been inundated by floods El Salvador has been particularly hard hit, while in South East Asia over 500 people have died in Thailand since July , many drowning in flood waters.

   The Holy Father expressed his closeness to all those who are suffering from these natural disasters, and added he was praying for the victims and their families.

   He also urged institutions and people of good will to work together with a generous spirit, to assist the thousands of people who are tried as a result of such disasters.

   The Pope made the appeal at his general audience in St Peter’s Square where he welcomed pilgrims from Denmark, the Philippines, Canada and the United States.

   It was also the setting for Pope Benedict to continue his catechesis on Christian prayer which this week focused on Psalm 119.

   “We now turn to Psalm 119, a solemn celebration of the Torah, the Law of the Lord. In twenty-two stanzas, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the Psalmist proclaims his love for God’s Law, which brings light, life and salvation.”

   The Holy Father went to explain that the words in this Psalm can be applied to the priesthood.

   “A striking example of the Psalmist’s devotion is seen in his words: “The Lord is my portion” (v. 57). We can apply these words in a special way to priests, whose lives of celibacy testify to their call to complete devotion to the Lord and his Kingdom. But they can also be applied to all the faithful, who share in Christ’s royal priesthood and are called daily to bear witness to the Gospel. May the Lord grant us a deeper love for him, so that, like the Psalmist, we may always make his word “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path”.”

   During the Audience the Pope was treated to a musical offering by a brass band ensemble from Malta and the Pope’s morning ended on a high note when he was conferred with honorary citizenship from the town of Natz-Schabs in the region of Trentino South Tyrol.

November 6, 2011

Pope Benedict: Learning how to live and die in hope

   In his midday Angelus reflections this Sunday Pope Benedict XVI returned once again to the subject of death, one that is often obscured from contemporary culture, but one that nonetheless pervades everyday life.

   In explaining the meaning of the Gospel and readings the Holy Father noted that the difference between believers and nonbelievers on death “is definitive”, because those who believe in the God who is Love “live and die in hope.”

Below the full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s Angelus Address:
Dear brothers and sisters!
   The Bible Reading of this Sunday’s liturgy invites us to prolong our reflections on eternal life, which began during the Commemoration of All Souls. On this point the difference between believers and nonbelievers, or, one might also say, among those who hope and who do not hope, is definitive. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ marks, even in this field, a decisive watershed. Again St. Paul reminds the Christians of Ephesus that, before accepting the Good News, they were "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2.12). In fact, the religion of the Greeks, the cults and pagan myths were not able to shed light on the mystery of death, so that an ancient inscription said: "In nihil ab nihilo quam cito recidimus," which means "How quickly we fall back from nothing to nothing". If we remove God, if we take away Christ, the world will fall back into the void and darkness. And this is also reflected in the expressions of contemporary nihilism, an often subconscious nihilism that unfortunately plagues many young people.
   Today's Gospel is a famous parable, about ten maidens invited to a wedding, a symbol of the kingdom of heaven, of eternal life (Mt 25.1 to 13). It is a happy image, with which, however, Jesus teaches a truth that question us; in fact, of those ten maidens five enter the celebration, because on the groom's arrival, they have the oil to light their lamps; while the other five remain outside, being foolish, did not bring the oil. What does this oil, which is essential to be admitted to the wedding, represent? St. Augustine (cf. Discourses, 93, 4) and other ancient authors see it as a symbol of love, which you can not buy, but is received as a gift, custodied within ourselves, and practiced in our deeds. True wisdom is taking advantage of mortal life to carry out works of mercy, because, after our death, it will no longer be possible. When we are reawakened for the Last Judgment, it will be based on the love we practiced in our earthly life (cf. Mt 25,31-46). And this love is the gift of Christ, poured out in us by the Holy Spirit. Those who believe in God who is Love carry within an invincible hope, like a lamp with which to cross the night after death, and reach the great celebration of life.
   We ask Mary, Sedes Sapientiae, to teach us true wisdom, that which was made flesh in Jesus. He is the Way that leads from this life to God, the Eternal. He has made known the Father's face, and so gave us a hope full of love. For this reason, the Church speaks to the Mother of God with these words: "Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra". May we learn from her how to live and die in the hope that never disappoints.
   I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for this Angelus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to be prepared, like the wise maidens, for the definitive encounter with him who will come to complete his work of salvation at the end of time. May the light of faith always guide us and may the gift of Christian love grow strong in our hearts and in our deeds as we journey to the eternal wedding feast. I wish you all a pleasant stay in Rome, and a blessed Sunday!

November 4, 2011

Pope Benedict: The Lord's call is a gift, not merited

   Pope Benedict XVI on Friday evening celebrated Vespers with students from the Pontifical Universities in Rome, which began their academic year in October. Students from around the world attend these Church-run institutions, which offer degrees in Philosophy, Theology, Canon Law and other disciplines. During his homily, the Pope gave some reflections on priestly ministry, since many of the students at the Pontifical Universities are priests and seminarians.
   In his remarks, Pope Benedict drew attention to the activities of the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations, which is celebrating its 70^th anniversary and the US-based Serra Club, one of the largest organizations in the world devoted to promoting vocations to the priesthood.
   The Holy Father underlined three main points: the desire to collaborate with Jesus in spreading the kingdom of God; the fact the priestly vocation comes from grace and not merit; and the attitude of service. He said the call to priestly ministry is an “encounter with Jesus and being fascinated by him, overcome by his words, his gestures, his own person.”
   He added the clergy “must never forget …the Lord's call to ministry is not the result of special merit, but is a gift to be accepted…according to his will, even if it does not correspond to our desires for self-realization.”
   “The Pope spoke as a father and with a very friendly tone to all the seminarians and priests who were gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica,” said Father Robert Gahl, Associate Professor of Ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. “He challenged them to grow in their personal with Jesus, and he challenged not to seek human ambition or human success, but rather to seek the Cross of Jesus Christ.”
   Father Gahl said Pope Benedict XVI has also given the students an example of this in his own life.
   “To everyone its evident that Cardinal Ratzinger did not desire to be elected Pope, it was the last thing he wanted, and yet he accepted it as the will of God. He really laid down his life for the Church.”

November 3, 2011

Pope Benedict: Three days that changed the world

   On Thursday Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the three days that change the world – and our relationship with death – forever, as he presided over a solemn liturgy at the Altar of the Cathedra in St Peter’s basilica in suffrage of the Cardinals and Bishops who have died in the past twelve months.
   Joined by the Cardinals and Archbishops of the Curia and the priests and religious of the pontifical household Pope Benedict XVI began by recalling those members of the College of Cardinals who have died this past year: Urbano Navarrete, SJ, Michele Giordano, Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., Giovanni Saldarini, Agustín García-Gasco Vicente, Georg Maximilian Sterzinsky, Kazimierz Świątek, Virgilio Noè Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic, Andrzej Maria Deskur.

   In his homily Pope Benedict pondered the mystery of death, read in the light of the ‘three days’ that passed between Christ’s death on the Cross, his descent into the ‘abyss of death’ and his resurrection. His homily is as follows:
Venerable Brothers,
Dear brothers and sisters!
   One day after the liturgical commemoration of all the faithful departed, we all gathered around the Lord's altar to offer his Sacrifice for the repose of the Cardinals and Bishops who, over the past year, have ended their earthly pilgrimage. With great affection I remember the venerable members of the College of Cardinals who have left us: Urbano Navarrete, SJ, Michele Giordano, Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., Giovanni Saldarini, Agustín García-Gasco Vicente, Georg Maximilian Sterzinsky, Kazimierz Świątek, Virgilio Noè Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic, Andrzej Maria Deskur. Together with them we present to the throne of the Most High the souls of our beloved Brothers in the Episcopate. For one and all we raise our prayer, filled with faith in eternal life and the mystery of the communion of saints. A faith full of hope, enlightened by the Word of God that we have heard.
   The passage from the Book of Hosea immediately reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus, the mystery of his death and awakening to immortal life. This passage from Hosea - the first half of Chapter VI - was deeply impressed on the heart and mind of Jesus. In fact, more than once - in the Gospels - He returns to verse 6: " For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings". Instead, Jesus does not quote verse 2, but makes it his own and realizes it in His paschal mystery: " He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence". In light of this word, the Lord Jesus went to meet his Passion, he embarked on the path towards the Cross, he spoke openly to his disciples of what was to happen in Jerusalem, and the oracle of the prophet Hosea rang true in his own words " The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise" (Mark 9:31).
   The evangelist notes that the disciples "did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him" (v. 32). We, too, faced with death, we can not but feel the feelings and thoughts dictated by our human condition. And we are always surprised and superseded by a God who is so close to us that He does not even stop before the abyss of death, which indeed he goes through, remaining in the tomb for two days. But right here the mystery of the "third day" takes place. To the very end, Christ takes on our mortal flesh so that it may be invested by the glorious power of God, the breath of the life-giving Spirit who transforms and regenerates. It is the baptism of passion (cf. Lk 12.50), which Jesus received for us and of which St. Paul writes in Romans. The expression that the apostle uses - "baptized into his death" (Rom 6:3) - never ceases to amaze us, the concision with which he sums up this towering mystery. Christ’s death is the source of life, because God has poured all his love into it, like an immense waterfall, which suggests the image contained in Psalm 41: " Deep calls to deep, in the roar of your torrents, and all your waves and breakers, sweep over me"(v. 8). The abyss of death is filled by the another, even greater abyss, which is God’s love, so that death no longer has any power over Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 8.9), nor over those who through faith and Baptism, are associated with Him: "If we die with Christ - Saint Paul says - we also believe that we shall live with him" (Rom. 8.8). This "living with Jesus" is the fulfillment of the hope prophesied by Hosea: "... and we shall live in His presence" (6.2).
   In fact, it is in Christ alone that this hope finds its basis in reality. Before it was in danger of being reduced to an illusion, a symbol derived from the rhythm of the seasons: "like autumn rain, like spring rain" (Hosea 6.3). At the time of the prophet Hosea, the faith of Israel was in risk of contaminating itself with the naturalistic religions of the land of Canaan, but this faith is not able to save anyone from death. Instead, God's intervention in the drama of human history does not obey any natural cycle, it only obeys His grace and faithfulness. The new and eternal life is the fruit of the tree of the Cross, a tree that blooms and bears fruit because of the light and strength that comes from the sun of God. Without the Cross of Christ, all the energy of nature is powerless before the negative force of sin. We needed a force for good greater than the one that governs the cycles of nature, a greater good than that of creation itself: a Love that proceeds from the "heart" of God and that, while it reveals the ultimate meaning of creation, renews and directs it to its original and ultimate destination.
   All this happened during those "three days" when the "grain of wheat" fell to earth, remained there for the time needed to fill the measure of justice and mercy of God, and finally produced "much fruit", not remaining alone, but as the firstborn among many brothers (cf. Jn 12.24; Rom 8:29). Now yes, thanks to Christ, thanks to the work accomplished in Him by the Holy Trinity, the images taken from nature are not just symbols, illusory myths, but they speak to us of a reality. At the foundation of hope is the will of the Father and the Son, which we heard in the Gospel of this Liturgy: " Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me" (Jn 17:24) . And among them, whom the Father gave to Jesus, there are also our venerable Brothers, for whom we offer this Eucharist: they "have known" God through Jesus, they knew his name, and the love of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit dwelt in them (cf. Jn 12.25-26), opening their lives to heaven, to eternity. Let us thank God for this priceless gift. And, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pray that this mystery of communion, which filled all their lives, be fully accomplished in each of them.

November 2, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI: G20 for authentic development

   Pope Benedict XVI appealed today for the success of the upcoming G-20 meeting in Cannes. His appeal came at the end of his weekly General Audience. “It is my hope,” said Pope Benedict, “that the meeting might help to overcome the difficulties that, on a global level, are blocking the promotion of an integral and authentically human development.”

   Before the appeal, in his catechesis, the Holy Father reflected on the Solemnity of All Souls, which the Church keeps every November 2^nd.

   This yearly commemoration, often marked by visits to the cemetery, is an occasion to ponder the mystery of death and to renew our faith in the promise of eternal life held out to us by Christ’s resurrection. As human beings, we have a natural fear of death and we rebel against its apparent finality. Faith teaches us that the fear of death is lightened by a great hope, the hope of eternity, which gives our lives their fullest meaning.

   The Pope said, “The God who is love offers us the promise of eternal life through the death and resurrection of his Son.”

   In Christ, death no longer appears as an abyss of emptiness, but rather a path to life which will never end. Christ is the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in him will never die. Each Sunday, in reciting the Creed, we reaffirm our faith in this mystery. As we remember our dear departed ones, united with them in the communion of the saints, may our faith inspire us to follow Christ more closely and to work in this world to build a future of hope.

   The Pope also had greetings for the English-speaking pilgrims present at the Audience:

   I offer a warm welcome to the priests from the United States taking part in the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. My greeting also goes to the pilgrimage group from Saint Paul’s High School in Tokyo, Japan. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Japan and the United States, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!

   Also on the Holy Father’s calendar for Wednesday evening was a traditional All Souls’ Day appointment: a period of silent prayer for his predecessors in the crypt beneath St Peter’s Basilica. The Solemnities of All Saints and All Souls begin a whole month dedicated especially to the pastoral concern for those who have died.

November 1, 2011

Pope Benedict: Holiness vocation of all the baptized

   During his Angelus on Tuesday, Pope Benedict said “the Feast of All Saints is a good time to lift our gaze from the realities of the world… to the enormity of God, who encompasses all eternity and holiness.”

   He said holiness is the vocation of all the baptized, and all the people of God are called to be saints.

   The Pope then turned his thoughts to Wednesday’s commemoration of All Souls.

   “From the early days of the Christian faith,” he said, “the Church on earth, recognizing the communion of the whole mystical body of Jesus Christ, has with great respect honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers for them.”

   The Pope said “our prayers for the dead are not only useful, but necessary.”

   The Holy Father reminded the faithful to keep the bonds of affection with our loved ones who have died, not only through prayer, but also through actions like visiting cemeteries.

   He said this reminds us all that we are meant for another life after death.