| The Holy Father's first audience was for the members of the Sacred
College whom he received in the Consistorial Hall on Wednesday morning,
18 October. After the address of homage by Cardinal Confalonieri, the
Dean of the College, His Holiness spoke to them as follows:
Revered Brothers!
What can I say, what do I wish to say to you, at this meeting while
all of us are certainly still moved by the ecclesial events of these
days?
In the first place I thank the Cardinal Dean for the noble words
which, interpreting your sentiments, he has addressed to me. And in
particular I express gratitude for the act of extraordinary confidence
which you have shown with regard to my humble person, electing me as
Peter's Successor in the See of Rome. Only in the light of faith is it
possible to accept with interior tranquility and with confidence the
fact that by virtue of your choice it has fallen to me to become the
Vicar of Christ on earth and visible Head of the Church.
An act of Courage
Venerable Brothers, it was an act of confidence and at the same time
of great courage to have wished to call a "non-Italian" as
Bishop of Rome. One cannot say any more, but can only bow one's head
before this decision of the Sacred College.
Never, perhaps, as in these recent events, which have involved the
Church, depriving her twice in two months of her universal Pastor, has
the Christian people felt and experienced the importance, the delicacy,
the responsibility of the tasks that the Sacred College of Cardinals had
to perform. And never as in this period — we must recognize with real
satisfaction — have the faithful shown such affectionate esteem and such
benevolent understanding for Their Eminences. The intense and prolonged
applause addressed to you at the end of the Mass "Pro eligendo
Papa" and at the announcement of the election of the new Pontiff,
was the most expressive, exalting and moving proof.
The faithful have really understood, revered Brothers, that the
purple you wear is the sign of that faithfulness "unto the shedding
of your blood", which you promised the Pope with a solemn oath.
Yours is a garment of blood, which recalls and presents the blood that
the Apostles, the Bishops, the Cardinals have shed for Christ in the
course of the centuries. I remember, at this moment, the figure of a
great Bishop, St John Fisher, created cardinal — as is known — when he was
imprisoned for his faithfulness to the Pope of Rome. On the morning of
22 June 1535, while he was preparing to offer his head to the
executioner's axe, he exclaimed facing the crowd: "Christian
people, I am about to die for faith in the Holy Catholic Church of
Christ". I would also venture to add that also in our times there
are persons who have not been spared, who are still not spared, the
experience of prison, sufferings, humiliation for Christ.
May this unshakeable faithfulness to the Bride of Jesus be always the
badge of honour and the pre-eminent boast of the College of Cardinals.
Sense of brotherhood
I would like to stress another element in this short meeting of ours:
the sense of brotherhood, which in this recent period has been
manifested and strengthened more and more within the Sacred College:
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in
unity!" (Psalm 132 (133), 1). The Sacred College has had to deal
twice, and in a very short space of time, with one of the most delicate
problems of the Church: that of the election of the Roman Pontiff. And
on this occasion the true universality of the Church has shone forth. It
was really possible to see what St Augustine affirms: "The Church
itself speaks the languages of all peoples... Spread among the peoples,
the Church speaks all languages" (In loannis Evang.
Tractat., XXXII, 7; PL 35, 1645).
Concordant in one faith
Ecclesial experiences, needs and problems that are complex, varied,
and sometimes even different. But this variety has been — and certainly
will be — always concordant in one faith, as the same Bishop of Hippo
reminds us when he emphasizes the beauty and variety of the clothes of
the queen-Church: "These languages constitute the variety of the
vesture of the queen. Just as every variety of dress is harmonized in
unity, so, too, all languages in regard to the one faith" (Enarrat.
in psal. XLIV, 23: PL 36, 509).
It is difficult for me not to express deep gratitude to the Holy
Father Paul VI for the fact that he decided to give the Sacred College
such a wide, international, intercontinental dimension. Its members, in
fact, come from the furthest ends of the earth. That makes it possible
not only to accentuate the universality of the Church, but also the
universal aspect of Rome.
In a few days you will all return to your posts of responsibility:
most of you to your dioceses: others to the Departments of the Holy See;
all to continue with ever increasing commitment the pastoral ministry,
which is weighted down with responsibilities, worries and sacrifices,
but also comforted by the grace of the Lord and by the spiritual joy he
gives his faithful servants. But, though at the head of the particular
Churches, always participate in concern for the whole Church, living and
putting into practice with all your might what the Second Vatican
Council recommends: "As lawful successors of the apostles and as
members of the episcopal college, bishops should always realize that
they are linked one to the other, and should show concern for all the
churches. For by divine institution and the requirement of their
apostolic office, each one in concert with his fellow bishops is
responsible for the Church" (Decree Christus Dominus, 6; cf.
ibidem,
3; Lumen Gentium, 23).
Let the Church be blessed
Invoking on you all, on the faithful entrusted to your pastoral zeal
and on all dear to you, the grace of Christ and the watchful protection
of Mary, "Mother of the Church", I would like to impart my
Apostolic Blessing with great affection. I would like to do so first for
you, and afterwards with you all: in this way let the Church be blessed
everywhere by the new Bishop of Rome and by the whole College of
Cardinals, whose members come from all over the world and are close to
him.
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