Holy Father concludes his visit, saying, ‘I prayed for France and for the world!’
Lourdes, Sep 15, 2008 / 12:54 pm (CNA).- The Holy Father thanked the French for their hospitality during his four-day trip that ended with a departure ceremony on Monday afternoon. During his closing remarks, the Pontiff recalled that before the Grotto of Massabielle, he spent time praying for the pilgrims, for the Church, for France, and for the world.Following this morning’s Mass for the sick, the Pope traveled to the airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees for his farewell ceremony. Present for the celebration were the French prime minister, Francois Fillon, political and civil authorities, the bishops of the Mini-Pyrenees region, and the president, vice president and secretary general of the Conference of Bishops of France.
Benedict XVI thanked all who had worked “devotedly and whole-heartedly for the successful outcome,” of his four day visit to France.
He described his journey in terms of the two panel piece of art called a diptych.
The first panel of the visit was “Paris, a city that I know well and the scene for several important meetings. There I met a vibrant people, proud of their firm faith; I came to encourage them to persevere courageously in living out the teaching of Christ and His Church," he said.
more...
posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 8:02 PM
3 Comments:
Hello there.
Would you know please where I can find a transcript of the Pope's recent speech made in Paris about money being the root of all evil?
Thankyou.
A transcript of the Pope's speech in Paris can be found at Zenit entitled "Papal Homily at Mass in Paris". The Pope is referring to 1 Timothy 6:10 (NRSV) which states, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains." The Pope refers to this scripture passage in his homily in the paragraph below:
"This appeal to shun idols, dear brothers and sisters, is also pertinent today. Has not our modern world created its own idols? Has it not imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity, by diverting man from his true end, from the joy of living eternally with God? This is a question that all people, if they are honest with themselves, cannot help but ask. What is important in my life? What is my first priority? The word "idol" comes from the Greek and means "image", "figure", "representation", but also "ghost", "phantom", "vain appearance". An idol is a delusion, for it turns its worshipper away from reality and places him in the kingdom of mere appearances. Now, is this not a temptation in our own day - the only one we can act upon effectively? The temptation to idolize a past that no longer exists, forgetting its shortcomings; the temptation to idolize a future which does not yet exist, in the belief that, by his efforts alone, man can bring about the kingdom of eternal joy on earth! Saint Paul explains to the Colossians that insatiable greed is a form of idolatry (cf. 3:5), and he reminds his disciple Timothy that love of money is the root of all evil. By yielding to it, he explains, "some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs" (1 Tim 6:10). Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power and even for knowledge, diverted man from his true destiny, from the truth of himself?"
The document's URL at Zenit.org is: http://www.zenit.org/article-23615?l=english
You might also like to read the article by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, "The Root of All Evil" which can be found at:
http://www.catholicexchange.com/2007/08/06/83657/
Thankyou!
Post a Comment
<< Home