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In the Heart of the Church |
“the
college of cardinals is... always united to the successor of peter"
Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Dean of the College of Cardinals
April 19, 2010
The following is an address given to the Holy Father on the fifth
anniversary of his election as Successor of Peter on behalf of the
College of Cardinals.
Most
Blessed Father,
Five years ago now the Lord addressed to you those telling words
that one day long ago he directed to the Apostle Peter: "If you love
me, feed my lambs, feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).
Animated by a great love of Christ and of his Holy Church, you
manifested your "Yes" to the Good Shepherd and thus initiated your
mission with great generosity. Today we wish to thank you for all
that you have done in these five years at the service of the Church
and of the world.
At the end of the Holy Mass that you celebrated in the Sistine
Chapel, the day after your election -- many of those present
remember it -- Your Holiness said to us: "Of you, esteemed
cardinals, with a grateful spirit for the trust demonstrated to me,
I ask that you sustain me with prayer and with constant, active and
wise collaboration" (cf. "Insegnamenti di Benedetto XVI," 2005/i,
page 9).
Holy Father, in these years this has been our commitment, or common
commitment, and today more than ever we seek to do carry it out. It
is the commitment not only of the 60 cardinals residents in the
city, but also that of the 121 brothers spread over the world, whom
we feel close today.
In fact, some cardinals resident in the Curia have not been able to
be with us today, because of their conditions of health. But in
spirit they are also present in our midst and present to you their
most fervid wishes for every good.
Precisely last Friday, we were left my one of our brothers, dear
Cardinal Tomas Spidlik, at the venerated age of 90 years, after
having taught us, in all the alternating events of his long life, to
trust always in Divine Providence, with that serenity and wisdom of
heart that he had drawn from the heart of Christ.
As you see, Holy Father, the College of Cardinals is a large family,
always united to the Successor of Peter, and committed to live in a
mutual spirit of fraternal communion.
Of course, we cannot forget the challenges that the modern world
poses to every disciple of Christ and so much more to us pastors,
but we are always sustained by the light of Christian hope, with the
certainty that the Lord's grace continues to operate in our midst!
Recently, speaking of that great cardinal that St. Bonaventure was,
Your Holiness reminded us of his teaching on the inexhaustible power
of the grace of Christ, which is able to light lights of hope also
between today's generations.
In this connection, you quoted to us those profound words of the
holy Franciscan cardinal: "Opera Christi non deficiunt, sed
proficiunt." In reality, also today the works of Christ do not
diminish, but progress and it confirms to us that the leaven of the
Gospel continues to permeate, with its innate interior dynamism, the
whole of humanity (cf. L'Osservatore Romano, March 11, 2010).
I understand, Holiness, that I am taking water to the sea, speaking
of hope in front of you, who have given us the beautiful encyclical
"Spe Salvi" and that every day directs us to the Risen One, who said
to his Apostles: "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John
16:33). We wish however to say to you that it is with this spirit
that we, today, surround you on the fifth anniversary of your
pontificate. With this spirit we say to you today from the depth of
our heart: "Ad multos annos, ad multos felicissimos annos!"
[These are the spontaneous remarks of Benedict XVI]
Your Eminence, dear brothers, precisely for his mediation five years
ago, the Lord asked me, Do you love me? He gave me the
responsibility of continuing the work of St. Peter. At this moment,
after five years, I can only give thanks: thanks above all to the
Lord himself, who guides me, but also thanks to all of you: to you
cardinal dean and to the entire College of Cardinals, for the
support I receive every day.
On this occasion I would like to thank all of those who work in the
Curia, who work together to carry out the mandate of the Lord to
Peter of confirming our brothers in the faith, or proclaiming the
Resurrection and of being witnesses of the charity of God. [...]
Let's give thanks to God and pray that God will help us to go
forward with strength and faith in the joy of His Resurrection.
Thank you!
[Translation by ZENIT]
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