Vatican
City, 5 July 2013 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican Gardens, in
the palace of the Governorate, a new monument to St. Michael
Archangel by the artist Giuseppe Antonio Lomuscio was inaugurated in
the presence of the Holy Father Francis, and Vatican City State was
consecrated to Sts. Joseph and Michael Archangel. Among those present
was the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, specially invited by Pope
Francis, and greeted with great affection by the assistants and staff
of the Governorate. The two pontiffs remained united throughout the
ceremony and sat together in front of the monument.
After
brief greetings from Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the
Governorate, and an address from Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president
emeritus of the Governorate, the Holy Father spoke.
“In
the Vatican Gardens there are many works of art, joined today by this
one which however takes a position of particular importance, both for
its location and for the meaning it expresses. Indeed, it is not
merely a celebratory work, but rather an invitation to reflection and
prayer, which fits well into this Year of Faith. Michael, which means
'Who is like God?', is the example of God's primacy, of his
transcendence and power. Michael fights to re-establish divine
justice; he defends the People of God from enemies and above all from
the greatest enemy of all, the devil. And St. Michael is victorious
because God acts in him. This sculpture reminds us that evil is
vanquished … On our path and in the trials of life we are not
alone, we are accompanied and sustained by the Angels of God who
offer, so to say, their wings to help us to overcome many dangers, to
be able to fly high compared to those aspects of life that may burden
us or drag us down. We consecrate Vatican City State to St. Michael
Archangel, asking him to defend us against evil and to banish it ...
and to St. Joseph, Jesus' guardian, the guardian of the Holy Family,
whose presence strengthens us and gives us the courage to make space
for God in our lives in order that good may always vanquish evil”.
The
Pope then recited the prayers for consecration, for St. Joseph and
St. Michael Archangel, sprinkled holy water on the new monument, and
finally imparted his blessing upon those present.
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