Vatican City, 29 June 2015 (VIS) – At
midday, after celebrating Holy Mass with the new metropolitan
archbishops in the Vatican Basilica, the Pope appeared at the window
of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St.
Peter's Square.
“The solemnity of the Saints Peter
and Paul is celebrated, as you know, by the universal Church, but it
is lived with particular joy by the Church of Rome, as her
foundations lie in their witness, sealed with blood. Rome nurtures a
special affection and acknowledgement for these men of God, who came
from a faraway and to announce, at the expense of their lives, the
Gospel of Christ to Whom they were totally dedicated. The glorious
legacy of these two apostles is a reason for spiritual pride for Rome
and, at the same time, is a reminder to live Christian virtues and in
particular faith and charity: faith in Jesus the Messiah and Son of
God, that Peter professed first and Paul announced to the people; and
charity, which this Church is called upon to serve with a universal
outlook”.
“In the Angelus prayer”, he
explained, “we associate the memory of Saints Peter and Paul with
that of Mary, the living image of the Church, Christ's spouse, whom
the two Apostles made fruitful with their blood”. Peter personally
knew Mary and, conversing with her, especially in the days preceding
Pentecost, he was able to deepen his knowledge of the mystery of
Christ. Paul, in announcing the fulfilment of the salvific plan 'in
the fullness of time', does not neglect to mention the 'woman' to
whom the Son of God was born in time. In the evangelisation of the
two apostles here in Rome there are also the roots of the Romans'
deep, centuries-long devotion to the Holy Virgin, invoked in
particular as Salus Populi Romani. Mary, Peter and Paul: they are our
travelling companions in our search for God, they are our guides on
the path of faith and holiness; they drive us towards Jesus, to do
all that He asks of us. Let us invoke their help, so that our heart
may always be open to the suggestions of the Holy Spirit and
encounter with our brothers”.
Francis asked all those present to pray
in a special way for Rome, for its spiritual and material well-being,
and that divine grace might support the Roman people to live
Christian faith fully. After the Marian prayer he reminded those
present of his upcoming apostolic trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and
Paraguay from 5 to 12 July, and again asked the faithful to accompany
him in prayer to Our Lady during the trip.
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