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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Regina Caeli Message
On Pentecost: "The Church Shows Herself as Missionary"
H.H. Benedict XVI
June 4, 2006
Today's Solemnity of Pentecost invites us to return to the origins of
the Church, which, as we affirm in the Second Vatican Council, was "made
manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit" (Lumen Gentium, n. 2).
At Pentecost, the Church shows herself as one, holy, catholic and
apostolic; she shows herself as missionary, with the gift of speaking
all the languages of the world, because the Good News of God's love is
destined for all peoples.
The Spirit, the Council again teaches, "[g]uiding the Church in the way
of all truth and unifying her in communion and in the works of ministry,
he bestows upon her varied hierarchic and charismatic gifts, and in this
way directs her; and he adorns her with his fruits" (ibid., n. 4).
Among the realities raised up in the Church by the Holy Spirit are the
Movements and Ecclesial Communities, which yesterday I had the joy of
meeting in this Square in a great worldwide gathering. The entire
Church, as beloved Pope John Paul II used to say, is one great movement
animated by the Holy Spirit, a river that travels through history to
irrigate it with God's grace and make it full of life, goodness, beauty,
justice and peace.
At the end of the Address:
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors.
Today, we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost, when the Risen
Lord filled the Church with the gift of his Holy Spirit to bring peace
and joy to all mankind. Let us open our hearts to this great Gift, so
that we may continue to teach the Gospel and do the Lord's work in
today's world. Upon all of you I invoke God's Blessings and wish you a
holy and happy time in Rome!
Let us now sing the Regina Caeli.
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