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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Communion of All Man
"Be a Hospitable House for All"
H.H. Benedict XVI
August 17, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
On this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the liturgy proposes a
reflection on the words of the prophet Isaiah: "And the foreigners
who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him ... I will bring
to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer ...
for my house shall be called a house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:6-7). The
Apostle Paul also makes reference to the universality of salvation
in the second reading, as does the Gospel page that narrates the
episode of the woman of Cana, a foreigner for the Jews, that Jesus
listened to because of her great faith. The word of God thus offers
us the opportunity to reflect on the universality of the mission of
the Church, made up of peoples of all races and cultures. Indeed,
herein lies the great responsibility of the ecclesial community,
called to be a hospitable house for all, sign and instrument of
communion for the whole human family.
How important it is, especially in our time, that every Christian
community be ever more conscious of this, in order to help civil
society to overcome every possible temptation to racism, intolerance
and exclusion, and to organize itself with options that are
respectful of the dignity of every human being! One of humanity's
great victories is precisely the overcoming of racism.
Unfortunately, however, there are new worrying manifestations of the
latter, often linked to social and economic problems, which,
however, can never justify contempt and racial discrimination. Let
us pray that respect for every person will grow everywhere, together
with the responsible awareness that only by the reciprocal
acceptance of all is it possible to build a world marked by real
justice and true peace.
Today I would like to propose another prayer intention, given the
news we receive, especially during this period, of numerous road
accidents. We must not get used to this sad reality! Human life is
too precious and it is too unworthy of man to meet death or become
an invalid due to causes that could mostly be avoided. There is
certainly a need for a greater sense of responsibility, above all by
drivers, as accidents are often caused by excessive speed and
imprudent conduct. Driving on public roads calls for moral and civic
sense. Indispensable to fostering this is authorities' constant
endeavor to prevent, keep watch and restrict. Moreover, as the
Church, we feel directly involved at the ethical level: Christians
must above all make a personal examination of conscience on their
own conduct as drivers; moreover, communities should educate
everyone to consider traffic as a field in which life must be
protected and love of neighbor concretely exercised.
Let us commend the social problems I have mentioned to the maternal
intercession of Mary, whom we now invoke by praying the Angelus.
[After praying the Angelus, the Pope greeted pilgrims in several
languages. In Italian, he said:]
I am following with close attention and concern the situation in
Georgia, and feel particularly close to the victims of the conflict.
While I offer a special prayer for the repose of the souls of the
deceased and express my sincere sympathy for all those in mourning,
I appeal for generous relief of the serious harm that the refugees
are suffering, especially the women and children, who are even
lacking what is necessary to survive. I appeal for the opening,
without delay, of humanitarian corridors between the region of South
Ossetia and the rest of Georgia, so that the dead who are still
abandoned, can received a worthy burial, that the wounded may be
adequately attended and that those who so wish it be allowed to be
reunited with their loved ones. Moreover, the ethnic minorities
involved in the conflict must be guaranteed safety and the
inviolability of their fundamental rights. I hope, finally, that the
present cease-fire, agreed thanks to the contribution of the
European Union, might be consolidated and be transformed into a
stable peace. At the same time, I call upon the international
community to continue offering its support to achieve a lasting
solution, through dialogue and the good will of all.
[He continued in German and Italian:]
I received with profound sorrow the news of the unexpected death of
Bishop Wilhelm Emil Egger of Bolzano-Bressanone. A few days ago I
bade him farewell and I thought he was enjoying good health. Nothing
led one to think of such a quick demise. I add my sympathy to that
of his relatives and of the whole diocese, in which he was greatly
appreciated and loved for his commitment and dedication. I raise a
fervent prayer to the Lord for the eternal rest of this good and
faithful servant, I send a special apostolic blessing of consolation
to his brother -- a Capuchin religious -- to his other relatives,
and to all the priests, men and women religious and faithful of the
Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present for this Sunday Angelus prayer. In today's Gospel Jesus
invites us, after the example of the Canaanite woman, to profess our
faith and our complete trust in God. He alone, through the power of
his Word and his Holy Spirit, can touch our hearts and save us. May
your stay in Castel Gandolfo and Rome draw you nearer to Christ, and
may God bless you all!
© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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