GENERAL AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The theme of today's general audience celebrated in St. Peter's Square, was "Knowing the Father.'" The Pope said that "we can know God as Father on different levels, according to our perspective and the aspect of the mystery contemplated."

The Holy Father explained that "there is a natural knowledge of God from creation. This leads us to recognize in Him the origin and transcendent cause of the world and the human person." However, "it is not possible to know the depths of divine fatherhood, but only as God himself shows himself."

"In the events of the history of salvation what reveals itself more and more is the initiative of the Father who, with his interior action, opens the hearts of believers to welcome his Incarnate Son. Knowing Jesus, they will be able to know the Father also."

John Paul II said that "knowing the Father means, then, finding in him the source of our being and our unity as members of one family, but it also means being immersed in a 'spiritual' life, the same life of God."

"The proclamation of the Son," he concluded, "continues to be, therefore, the royal road to know the Father and to make Him known. ... God is the one Father of all, wishing to offer salvation to all through the work of His Son. It is what St. John's Gospel calls the gift of eternal life."

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