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Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land |
"The Different Christian Churches Found Here Represent a Rich and
Varied Spiritual Patrimony"
Address
to Holy Land Ordinaries
H.H. Benedict XVI
The Upper Room, Jerusalem
May 12, 2009
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Father Custos,
It is with great joy that I greet you, the Ordinaries of the Holy
Land, in this Upper Room where according to tradition the Lord
opened his heart to his chosen disciples and celebrated the Paschal
Mystery, and where the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost inspired
the early disciples to go forth and preach the good news. I thank
Father Pizzaballa for the warm words of welcome which he has
expressed to me on your behalf. You represent the Catholic
communities of the Holy Land who, in their faith and devotion, are
like lighted candles illuminating the holy places that were graced
by the presence of Jesus our living Lord. This unique privilege
gives you and your people a special place of affection in my heart
as the Successor of Peter.
"When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to
the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved
them to the end" (Jn13:1). The Upper Room recalls the last supper of
our Lord with Peter and the other apostles and invites the Church to
prayerful contemplation. In this vein we gather together, the
Successor of Peter with successors of the apostles, in this same
place where Jesus revealed in the offering of his own body and
blood, the new depths of the covenant of love established between
God and his people. In the Upper Room the mystery of grace and
salvation, of which we are recipients and also heralds and
ministers, can be expressed only in terms of love. Because he has
loved us first and continues to do so, we can respond with love (cf.
Deus Caritas Est, 2). Our life as Christians is not simply a human
effort to live the demands of the Gospel imposed upon us as duties.
In the Eucharist we are drawn into the mystery of divine love. Our
lives become a grateful, docile and active acceptance of the power
of a love which is given to us. This transforming love, which is
grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:17), prompts us, as individuals and
communities, to overcome the temptation to turn in upon ourselves in
selfishness or indolence, isolation, prejudice or fear, and to give
ourselves generously to the Lord and to others. It moves us as
Christian communities to be faithful to our mission with frankness
and courage (cf. Acts 4:13). In the Good Shepherd who lays down his
life for his flock, in the Teacher who washes the feet of his
disciples, you find, my dear brothers, the model of your own
ministry in the service of our God who promotes love and communion.
The call to communion of mind and heart, so closely related to the
commandment of love and to the central unifying role of the
Eucharist in our lives, is of special relevance in the Holy Land.
The different Christian Churches found here represent a rich and
varied spiritual patrimony and are a sign of the multiple forms of
interaction between the Gospel and different cultures. They also
remind us that the mission of the Church is to preach the universal
love of God and to gather, from far and near, all who are called by
him, in such a way that, with their traditions and their talents,
they form the one family of God. A new spiritual impulse towards
communion in diversity within the Catholic Church and a new
ecumenical awareness have marked our times, especially since the
Second Vatican Council. The Spirit moves our hearts gently towards
humility and peace, towards mutual acceptance, comprehension and
cooperation. This inner disposition to unity under the prompting of
the Holy Spirit is decisive if Christians are to fulfill their
mission in the world (cf. Jn:17:21).
In the measure in which the gift of love is accepted and grows in
the Church, the Christian presence in the Holy Land and in the
neighboring regions will be vibrant. This presence is of vital
importance for the good of society as a whole. The clear words of
Jesus on the intimate bond between love of God and love of neighbor,
on mercy and compassion, on meekness, peace and forgiveness, are a
leaven capable of transforming hearts and shaping actions.
Christians in the Middle East, together with other people of good
will, are contributing, as loyal and responsible citizens, in spite
of difficulties and restrictions, to the promotion and consolidation
of a climate of peace in diversity. I wish to repeat to them what I
stated in my 2006 Christmas message to Catholics in the Middle East:
"I express with affection my personal closeness in this situation of
human insecurity, daily suffering, fear and hope which you are
living. I repeat to your communities the words of the Redeemer:
'Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the Kingdom' (Lk 12:32)" (Christmas Message to Catholics
living in the Middle East Region, 21 December 2006).
Dear Brother Bishops, count on my support and encouragement as you
do all that is in your power to assist our Christian brothers and
sisters to remain and prosper here in the land of their ancestors
and to be messengers and promoters of peace. I appreciate your
efforts to offer them, as mature and responsible citizens, spiritual
sustenance, values and principles that assist them in playing their
role in society. Through education, professional preparation and
other social and economic initiatives their condition will be
sustained and improved. For my part, I renew my appeal to our
brothers and sisters worldwide to support and to remember in their
prayers the Christian communities of the Holy Land and the Middle
East. In this context I wish to express my appreciation for the
service offered to the many pilgrims and visitors who come to the
Holy Land seeking inspiration and renewal in the footsteps of Jesus.
The Gospel story, contemplated in its historical and geographical
setting, becomes vivid and colorful, and a clearer grasp of the
significance of the Lord's words and deeds is obtained. Many
memorable experiences of pilgrims to the Holy Land have been
possible thanks also to the hospitality and fraternal guidance
offered by you, especially by the Franciscan Friars of the Custody.
For this service, I wish to assure you of the appreciation and
gratitude of the Universal Church and I express the wish that many
more pilgrims will visit in the future.
Dear brothers, as we address together our joyful prayer to Mary,
Queen of Heaven, let us place confidently in her hands the
well-being and spiritual renewal of all Christians in the Holy Land,
so that, under the guidance of their Pastors, they may grow in
faith, hope and love, and persevere in their mission as promoters of
communion and peace.
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