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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
Christ, King of the Universe
"He Defeated the Power of the 'Prince of This World'"
H.H. Benedict XVI
November 26, 2006
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
On this last Sunday of the liturgical year we celebrate the
solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe. Today's Gospel presents a
passage of the dramatic interrogation to which Pontius Pilate
subjected Jesus, when he was handed over to him with the accusation
of having usurped the title "king of the Jews."
Jesus responded to the questions of the Roman governor affirming
that he was King, but not of this world (cf. John 18:36). He did not
come to dominate peoples and territories, but to free men from the
slavery of sin and be reconciled with God. And he added: "For this I
was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness
to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice" (John
18:37).
But, what is the "truth" which Christ came into the world to
witness? His whole existence reveals that God is love. This is,
therefore, the truth of which he gave full testimony with the
sacrifice of his own life on Calvary. The cross is the "throne" from
which he manifested the sublime royalty of God-Love. By giving
himself in expiation of the sin of the world, he defeated the power
of the "prince of this world" (John 18:31) and established
definitively the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom that is manifested in
fullness at the end of time, after all his enemies and finally
death, are subjected to him (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26).
Then the Son will hand over the Kingdom to the Father and finally
God will be "all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). The road to achieve
this goal is long and it is not possible to take short cuts. It is
necessary that each person freely accept the truth of the love of
God. He is Love and Truth, and love as well as truth never impose
themselves: They knock on the door of the heart and mind and, where
they enter, bring peace and joy. This is the way God reigns; this is
his plan of salvation, a "mystery," in the biblical sense of the
term, namely, a plan that is revealed little by little in history.
The Virgin Mary is associated in a very special way to Christ's
royalty. God asked her, humble maiden of Nazareth, to become the
Mother of the Messiah, and Mary corresponded to this call with her
whole being, uniting her unconditional "yes" to that of her Son,
Jesus, becoming with him obedient to the point of sacrifice. Because
of this, God exalted her above all creatures and Christ crowned her
Queen of Heaven and earth. We entrust the Church and the whole of
humanity to her intercession, so that the love of God might reign in
all hearts and his plan of justice and peace be fulfilled.
[At the end of the Angelus, the Pope greeted pilgrims in several
languages. He began by saying in Italian:]
Dear brothers and sisters: As you know, in the next few days I will
visit Turkey. From now on I wish to send a cordial greeting to the
beloved Turkish people, of great historical and cultural richness. I
express sentiments of esteem and sincere friendship to this nation
and its representatives.
With heartfelt emotion, I wish to meet with the Catholic community,
which is always present in my heart, and unite myself fraternally to
the Orthodox Church, on the occasion of the feast of the Apostle St.
Andrew.
With confidence, I wish to follow in the footsteps of my venerated
predecessors, Paul VI and John XXIII, and I invoke the heavenly
protection of Blessed John XXIII, who for 10 years was apostolic
delegate in Turkey and felt great affection and esteem for that
nation. I asked all of you to accompany me with prayer so that this
pilgrimage may bring all the fruits willed by God.
Next December 1, World AIDS Day will be observed. I hope profoundly
that it will serve to foster greater responsibility in curing the
disease, as well as in the commitment to avoid all discrimination of
those who have been affected. While I invoke the Lord's consolation
on the sick and their families, I encourage the many initiatives
which the Church supports in this field.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[In English, he said:]
I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and
visitors gathered for this "Angelus" prayer. On this Solemnity of
Christ the King, let us pray for the spread of the Gospel, the
triumph of God's reconciling love and the coming of his eternal
Kingdom of holiness, justice and peace. May Christ's peace always
reign in your hearts!
Look at the One they
Pierced!
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