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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Word and Words
"The Bible Should Not be Robbed of Its Divine Element"
H.H. Benedict XVI
October 26, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear brothers and sisters:
With the Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of St. Peter, the
XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has drawn to a
close. It had the theme "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of
the Church." Every synodal assembly is a strong experience of
ecclesial communion, but this one even more so because at the center
of the attention was placed that which enlightens and guides the
Church: the Word of God, which is Christ in person.
And we have lived each day in a religious listening, marking all the
grace and beauty of being his disciples and servants. According to
the original meaning of the word "church," we have experienced the
joy of being convoked by the Word, and especially in the liturgy, we
have found each other from within it on the journey, as in our
promised land, which gives us a foretaste of the Kingdom of heaven.
One aspect that has been considered is the relationship between the
Word and words, that is, between the Divine Word, and the Scripture
that expresses it. As the Second Vatican Council teaches in the
constitution "Dei Verbum" (No. 12), a good biblical exegesis
requires both the historical-critical method and the theological
one, because sacred Scripture is the Word of God in human words.
This implies that every text should be read keeping in mind the
unity of all Scripture, the living tradition of the Church and the
light of faith. If it is true that the Bible is also a literary
work, even more, the great code of universal culture, it is also
true that it should not be robbed of its divine element, but rather
should be read in the same Spirit in which it was written.
Scientific exegesis and lectio divina are, therefore, both necessary
and complementary for seeking, through the literal meaning, the
spiritual one, which God wants to communicate to us today.
At the end of the synodal assembly, the patriarchs of the Eastern
Churches have raised a call, which I make my own, to bring the
attention of the international community, of religious leaders and
of all men and women of good will, to the tragedy that is being
lived in the countries of the East, where Christians are victims of
intolerance and cruel violence, slain, threatened, and forced to
abandon their homes and wander in search of refuge. I am thinking
especially in this moment of Iraq and India.
I am sure that the ancient and noble populations of these nations
have learned, over the course of centuries of respectful
coexistence, to appreciate the contribution that the small, but
qualified and hardworking Christian minorities give to the growth of
the common homeland. They do not ask for privileges, but only want
to continue living in their nation with their countrymen, as they
have always done. I ask the respective civil and religious
authorities not to spare any effort so that legality and civil
coexistence are again re-established and honest and loyal citizens
can know that they can count on adequate protection from the
institutions of the state. I also hope that the civil and religious
leaders of all countries, aware of their roles as guides and
reference points for the people, make significant and explicit
gestures of friendship and consideration for Christian minorities or
those of other religions, and that they make of the defense of their
legitimate rights a question of honor.
I am also happy to announce here with you what I have just announced
in holy Mass: In October of next year, the II Special Assembly of
the Synod for Africa will take place in Rome. Before this, if God
allows it, in the month of March, it is my intention to travel to
Africa, first visiting Cameroon, where I will give the bishops of
the continent the "instrumentum laboris" of the synod, and then to
Angola, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the
evangelization of that country.
I entrust the suffering mentioned earlier, as well as the hopes that
all of us carry in our hearts, particularly the expectation of the
synod of Africa, to Most Holy Mary.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted the people in
several languages. In English, he said:]
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at
this Angelus, including neocatechumenal communities from England. As
the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God concludes I invite you all
to deepen your knowledge of God's word which vivifies our life and
mission as Christians. Today's Gospel reading reminds us of the
heart of our faith: love of God and of neighbour. May your time here
in Rome inspire you to live ever more fully God's commandment of
love, courageously bearing witness to the way of Christ. Upon you
and your families, I invoke God's abundant blessings of peace and
joy!
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