See preceding page for earlier posts today, 6/29/12.
ANGELUS TODAY
A universal and ecumenical feast
June 29, 2012
In reflections before today's Angelus prayers, marking the feast of Saints Peter and Paul this Friday, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the universal and ecumenical value of the liturgical feast.
Rome, he said, "bears inscriptions in its history of the life and glorious death of the humble fisherman of Galilee and the Apostle to the Gentiles, whom she has rightly chosen as her Protectors. Recalling their luminous witness, we remember the venerable beginnings of the Church that in Rome that believes, prays and proclaims, Christ the Redeemer”.
But “Saints Peter and Paul not only shine in the sky of Rome, but in the heart of all believers who, enlightened by their teaching and by their example, all over the world walk the path of faith, hope and charity. On this road to salvation the Christian community, supported by the presence of the Spirit of the living God, feels encouraged to continue strong and serene on the path of fidelity to Christ and proclamation of his Gospel to men of all time”.
Earlier, the Pope bestowed the pallium on 40 new Metropolitan Archbishops from around the world before presiding at a Mass concelebrated with the bishops.
In his Angelus reflections, the Pope said: "The bestowing of the pallium …is also part of this fruitful spiritual and missionary itinerary.... It highlights the intimate communion of pastors with the Successor of Peter and the deep bond that binds us to the apostolic tradition. This is a double treasure of holiness, which blends together the unity and catholicity of the Church: a precious treasure to be rediscovered and lived with renewed enthusiasm and continued commitment."
Here is a translation of the full text of the Pope's remarks today:
Dear brothers and sisters,
We celebrate with joy the liturgical solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, a feast that has accompanied the bimillennial history of the Christian people.
They were called the pillars of the nascent Church. Illustrious witnesses of the faith, they spread the Kingdom of God with their different gifts and, following the example of the Divine Master, they sealed their evangelical preaching with their blood. Their martyrdom is a sign of Church unity.
And as St. Augustine observed: "One day alone is consecrated to the feast of the two apostles. But they too were one only. Although they were martyred on different days, they were one. Peter went ahead, and Paul followed" (Disc. 295, 8: PL 38, 1352).
An eloquent sign of Peter's sacrifice is the Vatican Basilica and this square, so important for Christianity. And Paul's martyrdom, too, has left significant traces in our city, especially the Basilica dedicated to him on Via Ostiense.
Rome's history is inscribed with the signs of the life and glorious deaths of the humble Fisherman from Galilee and the Apostle of the Gnetiles, whom she has rightly chosen as her Protesctors.
Commemorating their luminous testimony, we remember the venerable beginning of the Church in Rome which believes, prays to and announces Christ the Redeemer.
But Saints Peter and Paul do not only shine in the sky of Rome, but in the hearts of all believers who, enlightened by their teaching and their example, in every part of the world, are walking along the road of faith, hope and charity.
On this journey of salvation, the Christian community, sustained by the presence of the Spirit of the living God, feels encouraged to continue strongly and serenely along the road of faithfulness to Christ and of announcing his Gospel to men in every age.
This spiritual and missionary spirit is also the context for the imposition of the Pallium on the Metropolitan Archbishops which I performed this morning in the Basilica. It is a rite that is always eloquent, which highlights the intimate communion of the pastors with the Successor of Peter and the profound tie that binds us all to the apostolic tradition.
It is a double treasure of holiness, in which the unity and the catholicty of the Church are merged, a precious treasure to rediscover and to live with renewed enthusiasm and constant commitment.
Dear pilgrims, who have come here from every part of the world, on this holiday, let us pray with the expressions of tghe Oriental liturgy: "Praised be Peter and Paulm, the two great lights of the Church. They shine brilliantly in the firmament of the faith".
In this atmosphere, I address a special thought to the delegation from the Patriarchate of Constantinople, who as they do every year, came to take part in our traditional celebration.
May the Virgin Mary lead all believers in Christ to the goal of full unity!
After the plurilingual greetings, he had this message in Italian:
Finally, I greet the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially the Metropolitan Archbishops and those who accompanied them; the Sisters of Santissima Madre Addolorata; the Associazione Amici di Santa Veronica, as well as the Pro Loco of Rome and their master 'infioratori' [creators of pavement tapestries using flowers to create their designs] whom I thank for the artistic floral tribute that we can see today on the Piazza.
Also gathered here today, to renew their expression of profound communion and spiritual nearness to the Successor of Peter, are the faithful of the Diocese of Rome with the Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini, and young Catholics who joined together spontaneously through the social networks: Thank you for your presence.
Dear friends, I thank you from the heart for this gesture of affection and for your initiatives to support my ministry and to promote in every environment a courageous and active Christian witness. I also count on your prayers in order to continue serving the Church with the gentleness and the strength of the Holy Spirit.
I wish everyone a happy holiday on this Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Thank you.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 02/07/2012 17:08]