VATICAN - The Pope’s teaching at the general audience: “a person who adores the idols of wealth, power or success loses his dignity as a human person...On the contrary, those who believe in the Lord know that the living God is their «help» and their «shield»”. An appeal for a cessation of violence everywhere, “never a worthy of a good cause”

Wednesday, 1 September 2004

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Idolatry is a temptation for all humanity in every land and in every time. An idol is something unanimated, created by the human hands, a cold statue, without life ... a person who adores the idols of wealth, power or success loses his dignity as a human person. On the contrary, those who believe in the Lord know that the living God is their «help» and their «shield».” This was part of the address, which Pope John Paul II gave at the general audience on Wednesday 1 September in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. Continuing his teaching on the psalms and canticles used in the Liturgy of Vespers, this morning the Holy Father commented psalm 115: “The greatness and goodness of the true God” (Second Vespers Sunday week 2, Ps 113 1.3.9.11-13).
“The living God and inert idols come into conflict in Psalm 115”, the Pope said. “After addressing the Lord to proclaim his glory, the Chosen People present their God as the almighty creator ... Lord of the cosmos and of history, whose power is love and salvation. Juxtaposed to the concept of the true God is the worship of idols. Those who are faithful to the Lord know that God is their help and their shield and they are presented in three categories: the whole people, the community gathered to pray in the temple; the priests, guardians and announcers of the divine Word called to preside liturgy; sincere believers and pagans who draw near to the community and the faith of Israel with a sincere heart and genuine searching. “Divine blessing descends on these three categories of true believers. This blessing, according to the biblical concept, is a source of fecundity”.
After greeting those present in different languages the Pope launched the following appeal in Italian “With deep grief and concern I heard the reports of terrorist attacks in Israel and in Russia, in which numerous people, innocent and helpless victims, were killed. Also in the tormented country of Iraq the chain of violence which prevents a swift return to civil co-existence is unending. Abhorrence for the barbarous murder of 12 citizens of Nepal is accompanied by fear for the plight of two French journalists still held hostage by their captors. I make a pressing appeal for a cessation everywhere of violence, never worthy of a good cause, and for the French reporters to be treated with humanity and returned promptly to their loved ones. Today 1 September is the anniversary of the invasion of Poland and the beginning the Second World War, which brought much bereavement to Europe and to the other continents. Thinking back to those days, in these times of serious and widespread tension, we invoke from God, Father of all humanity, the precious gift of peace.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2004 - Righe 31; Parole 474)


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