VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 2007 (VIS) - "Today's liturgy invites us to celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist whose life, like Mary's, was entirely oriented towards Christ," the Pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at midday today, prior to praying the Angelus.
St. John the Baptist, the Pope went on, "was the precursor, the 'voice' sent to announce the incarnate Word. Therefore, commemorating his birth really means celebrating Christ, the fulfillment of all the promises of all the prophets."
"All the Gospels begin their account of Jesus' public life with the story of His Baptism by John in the River Jordan. ... Like a true prophet, John bore witness to the truth without compromise. He denounced transgressions of God's commandments, even when the transgressors were powerful. ... We invoke his intercession, together with that of Mary Most Holy, that in our own time the Church may know how to remain faithful to Christ and to bear courageous witness to His truth and His love for everyone."
After praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI indicated that today, the Sunday preceding the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, marks in Italy the Day of the Pope's Charity, and he thanked the Italian faithful "for the prayers and for the material support with which you participate in the Successor of Peter's activities of evangelization and charity throughout the world."
ANG/JOHN THE BAPTIST:PAPAL CHARITY/... VIS 20070625 (250)
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