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May Christ always have first place in our lives
On Wednesday morning, 27 April, the Holy Father spoke to the many
pilgrims and visitors who had gathered in St Peter's Square for the
first General Audience of his Pontificate. During his Catechesis, Pope
Benedict XVI explained to the faithful why he had chosen the name
"Benedict", and informed them that it was his intention to continue
commenting on the reflections that his Predecessor "had prepared on the
second part of the Psalms and Canticles" of Vespers.
The following is a translation of the Holy Father's Catechesis,
which was given in Italian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am pleased to welcome you and I address a cordial greeting to all
of you present here, as well as to those who are following us via radio
and television. As I already expressed in the Sistine Chapel at my first
Meeting with the Cardinals last Wednesday, mixed feelings fill my heart
during these days when I am beginning my Pertain Ministry: amazement and
gratitude to God who first of all surprised me by calling me to succeed
the Apostle Peter; inner apprehension at the immensity of the task and
the responsibility which have been entrusted to me. However, the
certainty of the help of God, of his Most Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary,
and of the Patron Saints, gives me serenity and joy. I also find support
in the spiritual closeness of the entire People of God who, as I had an
opportunity to say last Sunday, I continue to ask to accompany me with
their persistent prayers.
Priorities: reconciliation and peace
After the holy death of my Venerable Predecessor John Paul II, the
traditional Wednesday General Audiences are resuming today. Thus, we are
returning to normality. At this first Meeting, I would like to begin by
reflecting on the name that I chose on becoming Bishop of Rome and
universal Pastor of the Church. I wanted to be called Benedict XVI in
order to create a spiritual bond with Benedict XV, who steered the
Church through the period of turmoil , caused by the First World War. He
was a courageous and authentic prophet of peace and strove with brave
courage first of all to avert the tragedy of the war and then to limit
its harmful consequences. Treading in his footsteps, I would like to
place my ministry at the service of reconciliation and harmony between
persons and peoples, since I am profoundly convinced that the great good
of peace is first and foremost a gift of God, a precious but
unfortunately fragile gift to pray for, safeguard and build up, day
after day, with the help of all.
The name "Benedict" also calls to mind the extraordinary figure of
the great "Patriarch of Western Monasticism", St Benedict of Norcia,
Co-Patron of Europe together with Sts Cyril and Methodius, and the women
Saints, Bridget of Sweden, Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein. The
gradual expansion of the Benedictine Order that he founded had an
enormous influence on the spread of Christianity across the Continent.
St Benedict is therefore deeply venerated, also in Germany and
particularly in Bavaria, my birthplace; he is a fundamental reference
point for European unity and a powerful reminder of the indispensable
Christian roots of his culture and civilization.
Pride of place to Christ
We are familiar with the recommendation that this Father of Western
Monasticism left to his monks in his Rule: "Prefer nothing to the love
of Christ" (Rule 72:11; cf. 4:21). At the beginning of my service
as Successor ' of Peter, I ask St Benedict to help us keep Christ firmly
at the heart of our lives. May Christ always have pride of place in our
thoughts and in all our activities!
I think back with affection to my Venerable Predecessor John Paul II,
to whom we are indebted for his extraordinary spiritual heritage. "Our
Christian communities", he wrote in his Apostolic Letter Novo
Millennio Ineunte, "must become genuine 'schools' of prayer, where
the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also
in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent
devotion, until the heart truly 'falls in love'" (n. 33). This is what
Pope John Paul II did. He sought to put these instructions into practice
himself, commenting on the Psalms of Lauds and Vespers at the most
recent 'of his Wednesday Catecheses. Just as at the beginning of his
Pontificate John Paul II wanted to continue the reflections on the
Christian virtues that his Predecessor had begun (cf. L'Osservatore
Romano English edition, General Audience of 25 October 1978, p. 5),
I also intend to continue in the coming months the reflections that he
had prepared on the second part of the Psalms and Canticles which
comprise Vespers. Next Wednesday, therefore, I will take up his
Catecheses where he left off, after his General Audience last 26
January.
Dear Friends, thank you again for your visit, and thank you for the
affection with which you surround me. I cordially reciprocate these
sentiments with a special Blessing, which I impart to all of you here,
to your relatives and to all your loved ones.
To English-speaking pilgrims
I extend a special welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims here
today, including groups from England, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Norway,
Sweden, Australia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Singapore and the United
States of America.
Thank you for the affection with which you have greeted me. Upon all
of you, I invoke the peace and joy of Jesus Christ our Lord!
To special groups
Lastly, my thoughts go to the young people, the sick
and the newlyweds. May the Risen Lord fill the heart of each one
of you with his love, dear young people, so that you will be
ready to follow him with enthusiasm; may he support you, dear sick
people, so that you will accept the burden of suffering serenely;
and may he guide you, dear newly-weds, to make your family grow
in holiness.
Let us conclude our meeting by singing together the prayer of the
Our Father.
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