At the tomb of John Paul II.
Pope Benedict prays at the Vatican Grottoes
for predecessors and the faithful departed
Translated from
the Italian service of
Nov. 3, 2009
When the Church commemorated all the faithful departed yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI renewed a traditional ceremony at the Vatican Grottoes where many of his predecessors, starting with the Apostle Peter himself, are buried.
Descending to the grottoes below St, Peter's Basilica, the Pope offered an intense and solemn prayer:
"In these Vatican Grottoes, let us entrust to the mercy of the Father those who are buried here and await the resurrection of the body, particularly Pope John Paul II and the other Supreme Pontiffs who carried out their service as Pastors of the Universal Church, that they may be participants in the eternal liturgy of heaven".
During the prayer service, a passage was read from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians in which the Apostle of the Gentiles exhorts Christians to await the coming of the Savior who will transfigure our poor mortal bodies in order to unite us to his glory.
In his prayer for all the faithful departed, the Pope had a special thought for those who were victims of every form of violence, with the hope that their sacrifices may hasten the coming of an era of brotherhood and peace.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 03/11/2009 14:39]