EUROPE MUST DRAW NEW ENERGY FROM ITS CHRISTIAN ROOTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2006 (VIS) - Early this afternoon, the Pope travelled in an open-top car to Rome's Piazza di Spagna to pay his traditional homage before the statue of Mary Immaculate. The Holy Father made the journey standing in order to greet the thousands of people who lined the streets to see him.

  Having reached the monument, a tall column bearing a statue of the Virgin in front of the Spanish embassy to the Holy See, Benedict laid a basket of roses at the base of the monument and read a prayer.

  "You are full of grace, Mary, full of divine love from the first instant of your life, providentially predestined to be the Mother of the Redeemer and intimately associated with Him in the mystery of salvation. ... In you shines the dignity of all human beings, who are always precious in the eyes of the Creator. Those who turn their gaze to you, All Holy Mother, never lose their serenity, however hard the trials of life may be. Although the experience of sin, that disfigures the dignity of the children of God, is sad, those who turn to you renew the beauty of truth and of love, and rediscover the path that leads to the house of the Father."

  The Pope called on the Virgin to help us pronounce, as she did, "our 'yes' to the Lord's will," and to give us the "courage to say 'no' to the snares of power, money, pleasure and dishonest gain, corruption and hypocrisy, selfishness and violence. 'No' to the Evil One, deceitful prince of this world. 'Yes' to Christ, Who destroys the power of evil with the omnipotence of His love. We know that only hearts converted to Love - that is, God - can build a better future for everyone."

  "You are 'full of grace,' Mary! ... To the fount of your immaculate heart, we come once again as faithful pilgrims to draw faith and consolation, joy and love, security and peace."

  Benedict XVI also called upon the Virgin to be "a Mother and a watchful guardian over Italy and Europe, so that from their ancient Christian roots people may know how to draw new lifeblood to build their present and their future. Show yourself a prudent and merciful Mother to the world entire, so that, with respect for human dignity and rejecting all forms of violence and exploitation, solid foundations may be laid for the civilization of love."

  "Show yourself as Mother especially to those in particular need: the defenseless, the marginalized and the excluded, victims of a society that all too often sacrifices man to other ends and interests. Show yourself, O Mary, as Mother to everyone, and give us Christ, the Hope of the world! 'Monstra Te esse Matrem,' Immaculate Virgin full of grace, Amen!"

  Following the act of homage, and before returning to the Vatican, the Holy Father travelled to the basilica of St. Mary Major where he prayed before the image of the Mother of God, "Salus Populi Romani."
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