Famiglia Cristiana is Italy's most popular weekly magazine, with a cirtulation between 800,000-1,000,000 every week.
BENEDICT XVI:
The joy of faith
Editorial
Translated from
March 15, 2012
Photo currently used as the introduction to the OR's Benedict XVI gallery of its daily newsphotos of the Holy Father.
A visit to Mexico and Cuba on the eve of his 85th birthday, so in occasion of this birthday, our readers can send message of affection to the Pope through our initiative "Send a birthday greeting to the Pope".
A series of anniversaries and events make 2012 a truly singular year for the Church. Particularly for Benedict XVI, who will turn 85 on April 16.
Although he has been cutting down on his public events to better conserve his energies, and although he now uses a rolling platform in his processions and recessionals along the nave of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope continues his elevated Magisterium with firmness and lucidity. In order to affirm the Gospel and the Word of God. But also to show the world the paths of truth, charity and justice.
Less than three weeks before his 85th birthday, Benedict XVI is preparing to undertake one of two international trips announced so far for 2012. His first stop will be Mexico, after which he proceeds to the Caribbean island of Cuba, whose Communist regime has recently shown signs of change and opening towards democracy.
Among the Cuban government representatives that the Pope will meet in Havana would be Cuba's once Supreme Leader Fidel Castro, 85 like the Pope, ailing from what is thought to be a terminal disease, and said to be close to returning to the Catholic faith of his youth.
It will be the second papal visit to Cuba after that of John Paul II in 1998, which served to 'normalize' relations between the atheist Cuban government and the Catholic Church after 40 years of a tense and problematic situation.
Benedict XVI's visit to Cuba - this is is his second trip to Latin America after his apostolic trip to Brazil in 2008 - comes during the 400th jubilee year anniversary of the finding of the image of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre in the country's southeastern part, near Guantanamo. The Virgin is the patroness of Cuba.
The second half of 2012 will see the Church engaged in three major events: the Year of Faith which begins in October to mark the second event - the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council; and the October Synodal Assembly on the New Evangelization.
"The heart of the crisis of the Church in Europe is the crisis of faith", Benedict XVI has reiterated often. "If we do not find a response to this, if the faith does not regain its vitality, to become a profound conviction and real strength thanks to an encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective".
Benedict XVI has devoted his Magisterium and his experience as a great theologian to combat such 'a fatigue of faith', in order that Christians may rediscover the joy of the faith, personal and communitarian, in a society that is increasingly individualistic and secularized which would exclude God from its horizon. A world without God will certainly not be a better world.
As we prepare to live a year of Faith, we wish, along with the great family of our readers, to rally closely around the Pope in order to manifest to him all our affection on his birthday.
The link for sending a greeting to the Pope is:
http://www.famigliacristiana.it/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/membership/invia-il-tuo-augurio-al-papa.aspx
It's a special closenesa, especially these days, when he has been made the object of so many attacks and hostility on the part of those who would wish to undermine his moral authority to better promote a world without rules.
Your greetings, dear leaders, we shall send directly to the Pope on the eve of his birthday, an occasion that we shall also mark with a pleasing surprise that will help us study more deeply the contents of the faith. And to bear witness to the joy of believing.