Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Although, as is customary, the Holy Father Benedict XVI wished to wait to speak about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land at greater length in the General Audience on Wednesday, he did express his gratitude to the Lord for granting him the possibility “of completing this very important apostolic voyage” in his address prior to the recitation of the Regina Caeli on Sunday, May 17.
“This pilgrimage to the holy places was also a pastoral visit to the faithful who live there, a service to Christian unity, to dialogue with the Jews and Muslims, and to the building up of peace,” the Holy Father said. “The Holy Land, symbol of God’s love for his people and for the whole of humanity, is also a symbol of the freedom and the peace that God wants for all his children. In fact, however, the history of yesterday and today shows that precisely that Land has become the symbol of the opposite, that is, of divisions and interminable conflicts between brothers.” The Pope encouraged the faithful to ask the question, “How is this possible?...since we know that God has a mysterious plan for that Land.”
Benedict XVI mentioned that the Holy Land “has been called a 'fifth Gospel,' because here we see, indeed touch, the reality of the history that God realized together with men -- beginning with the places of Abraham’s life to the places of Jesus’ life, from the incarnation to the empty tomb, sign of his resurrection.” The Pope then observed that “the Holy Land, because of its very history, can be considered a microcosm that recapitulates in itself God’s arduous journey with humanity. A journey that implicates even the cross with sin, but -- with the abundance of divine love -- the joy of the Holy Spirit too, the resurrection already begun, and it is the journey, through the valley of our suffering, to the Kingdom of God.”
“Salvation history begins with the election of one man, Abraham, and of people, Israel, but its aim is universality, the salvation of all nations,” the Pope said, recalling that “salvation history is always marked by this intersection of particularity and universality.” He then concluded: “Fear God and practice justice and in this way you will open the world to the Kingdom of God: this is the deeper purpose of every interreligious dialogue.”
Before reciting the Regina Caeli, Benedict XVI directed his thoughts to Sri Lanka, “to assure those civilians who find themselves in the combat zone in the northern part of the country of my affection and spiritual nearness.” He continued: “There are thousands of children, women, and elderly there from whom the war has taken away years of life and hope. In this respect, I would like once again to address an urgent invitation to the opposing sides to facilitate the evacuation [of the civilians] and join my voice to that of the United Nations’ Security Council which just some days ago asked for guarantees of their safety and security. Furthermore, I ask the humanitarian organizations, including Catholic ones, to do all they can to meet the refugees urgent food and medical needs. I entrust that dear country to the maternal protection of Holy Virgin of Madhu, loved and venerated by all Sri Lankans, and I lift up my prayers to the Lord that he will hasten the day of reconciliation and peace.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2009)
