Vatican
City, 29 December 2012
(VIS) - This afternoon before more than 30,000 people gathered in St.
Peter's Square, Benedict XVI prayed with the participants in the 35th
European meeting of young people of the Taize Community. Many local
families hosted those who had made the pilgrimage to Rome for this
occasion. The prayer followed the approach typical of the Taize
Community. Following an address by Br. Alois, Prior of the Taize
Community, the Holy Father spoke to the young people present in
several languages.
"You
have come in large numbers from all over Europe and also from other
continents to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul", the
Pope said. "The faith that motivated these two great Apostles of
Jesus is the same faith that has inspired your pilgrimage. During the
year that is about to begin, you propose to free the wellsprings of
trust in God in order to live it in your daily lives. I am pleased
that in this way you have embraced the intentions of the Year of
Faith, which began in October".
In
English, Benedict XVI recalled that "just over seventy years
ago, Brother Roger established the Taize Community. Thousands of
young people from all over the world continue to go there to seek
meaning for their lives". It was precisely to support them "on
their journey to Christ" that Brother Roger established this
"pilgrimage of trust on earth".
"A
tireless witness to the Gospel of peace and reconciliation, ardently
committed to an ecumenism of holiness, Brother Roger encouraged all
those who passed through Taize to become seekers of communion. We
should listen in our hearts to his spiritually lived ecumenism, and
let ourselves be guided by his witness towards an ecumenism which is
truly interiorised and spiritualised. Following his example, may all
of you be bearers of this message of unity. I assure you of the
irrevocable commitment of the Catholic Church to continue seeking the
paths of reconciliation leading to the visible unity of Christians.
And so this evening I greet with special affection those among you
who are Orthodox or Protestants".
In
French, the Pope continued: "Christ now poses to you the
question He addressed to His disciples: 'Who do you say that I am?'
... and wishes to receive from each one of you an answer that comes
not from constraint or from fear, but from your profound freedom. It
is in responding to this question that your life finds its fullest
meaning. ... The Word of God, according to the Second Letter of
Peter, is like 'a lamp shining in a dark place', that you would do
well to attend to 'until day dawns and the morning star rises in your
hearts'. You have understood this though: if the morning star is to
rise in your hearts this means that it is not always there. At times
evil and the suffering of the innocent give rise to doubt and
confusion. At these times, our 'yes' to Christ becomes difficult. But
this doubt does not make us unbelievers! Jesus did not abandoned the
man in the Gospel who exclaimed 'I believe; Help my unbelief!'".
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment