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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
On Saints Peter and Paul
"They Received from God Different Charisms and Different Missions"
H.H. Benedict XVI
June 29, 2010
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today the Church of Rome celebrates her holy roots, celebrating the
Apostles Peter and Paul, whose relics are kept in the two basilicas
dedicated to them and that embellish the whole city cherished by
resident Christians and pilgrims. The solemnity began yesterday evening
with the prayer of the first vespers in the Basilica [of St. Paul
Outside the Walls]. The liturgy of the day proposes again Peter's
profession of faith in confronting Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). It is not a statement that is the
fruit of reasoning, but a revelation of the Father to the humble
fisherman of Galilee, as Jesus himself confirms saying: "flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you" (Homily in Matthaeum 54, 2: PG 58, 535).
In fact, the Lord ends saying: "Whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
St. Paul -- of whom we recently celebrated the 2,000 years of his birth
-- with divine Grace spread the Gospel, sowing the Word of truth and of
salvation amid the pagan peoples. The two patron saints of Rome, though
having received from God different charisms and different missions to
fulfill, are both the foundation of the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church, "permanently open to the missionary and ecumenical
dynamic, because sent to the world to proclaim and witness, actualize
and expand the mystery of communion that constitutes her" (Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Communionis notio," May 28, 1992, No. 4:
AAS 85 [1993], 840). Because of this, during this morning's Holy Mass in
the Vatican Basilica, I conferred upon 38 Metropolitan Archbishops the
pallium, which symbolizes both communion with the Bishop of Rome as well
as the mission to feed with love the one flock of Christ. On this solemn
occasion, I also wish to thank from my heart the delegation of the
ecumenical patriarchate, testimony of the spiritual bond between the
Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople.
May the example of the Apostles Peter and Paul illumine minds and ignite
in the hearts of believers the holy desire to do the will of God, so
that the Church journeying on earth may always be faithful to her Lord.
Let us turn with confidence to the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles,
who from Heaven guides and sustains the path of the People of God.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After the Angelus the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in various
languages. In English, he said:]
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for
this Angelus prayer. Today's Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons
of the Church of Rome, invites us to give thanks for the faith we have
received from the Apostles in the communion of the Church. As a sign of
that unity, this morning I conferred the Pallium upon a number of
Metropolitan Archbishops from throughout the world. I ask you to pray
that, through the intercession of the Apostles, they will be true
heralds of the Gospel and models of pastoral charity to the flock
entrusted to their care. Upon all of you I invoke the Lord's richest
blessings!
Copyright 2010 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[In Italian, he said:]
I greet, finally, the Italian-speaking pilgrims, particularly the
Metropolitan Archbishops and all those who accompany them. I wish all a
good feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
Look
at the One they Pierced!
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