Full Text of Pope Benedict XVI's Remarks at Farewell Ceremony
(10 Sept. 07 -RV) Below is the full text of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks at the farewell
ceremony in Austria on Sunday evening...
Address of the Holy Father Departure
Ceremony Vienna, Airport Sunday, 9 September 2007
Mr President, Members
of the Austrian Government, Civil Authorities, Your Eminence, Dear Brother
Bishops, Ladies and Gentlemen!
As I prepare to leave Austria at the conclusion
of my pilgrimage for the 850th anniversary of the National Shrine of Mariazell,
I recall with gratitude these days filled with memorable experiences. I feel that
I have come to know even better this beautiful country and its people.
I
offer heartfelt thanks to my Brother Bishops, to the Government, to the public authorities
and, not least, to the many volunteers who assisted in the organization of this visit.
I pray that you will share richly in the graces we have received in these days. My
sincere thanks go to you, Mr President, for your gracious words of farewell and for
accompanying me on this pilgrimage.
Once again I was able to experience Mariazell
as a particularly grace-filled place, a place which in these days welcomed all of
us and gave us inner strength for the road ahead. The throngs of people who joined
in our celebration in the Basilica, in Mariazell itself and throughout Austria should
inspire us, with Mary, to look to Christ and, as persons whom God looks upon with
love, to face with courage the future of this country, of the continent and of the
whole world. At the very beginning of my pilgrimage, our common prayer in the
Square “Am Hof” brought us together in a way which transcended national borders and
directly introduced us to Austria’s open hospitality, which is one of this country’s
finest qualities.
May the quest for mutual understanding, and the creative
development of ever new ways of building trust between individuals and peoples, inspire
the national and international policies of this nation. Vienna, faithful to its rich
history and its location in the vital centre of Europe, can offer a specific contribution
in this regard, by consistently helping to bring the traditional values of the continent,
values shaped by the Christian faith, to the European institutions and to the work
of promoting international, intercultural and interreligious relations.
On
life’s pilgrimage we frequently pause to consider with gratitude the progress already
made, and to look with prayerful hope at the road still before us. I made just such
a stop at the monastery of Heiligenkreuz. The tradition cultivated there by the Cistercian
monks puts us in touch with our roots, whose strength and beauty ultimately derive
from God himself. The Pontifical Theological Academy located in the monastery is
a reminder that the treasures we have received from the past constantly call for new
and deeper contemplation and reflection, so that we can hand them on, in fidelity
to the Gospel and the doctrine of the Church.
Today I celebrated Sunday, the
Lord’s Day with you – representing all the parishes of Austria – in the Cathedral
of Saint Stephen, the principal Church of Vienna. This gave me an opportunity to
be united in a special way with the faithful in all the parishes of Austria.
For
me, a very moving moment was my meeting with volunteers from the charitable organizations
which are so many and varied in Austria. The thousands of volunteers I was able to
see represent the many thousands more who, throughout the country, by their readiness
to help others, daily portray humanity’s noblest features, wherein believers can recognize
the love of Christ.
Gratitude and joy fill my heart at this moment. To all
of you who have been with me during these days, to all who put so much effort and
hard work into making this very full programme proceed so smoothly, and to all who
joined in my pilgrimage and shared in our celebrations, I once more express my deep
gratitude. As I leave you, I entrust the present and the future of this country to
the intercession of the Gracious Mother of Mariazell, Magna Mater Austriae, and to
all the saints and beati of Austria. With them we want to look to Christ, our life
and our hope. With great affection I offer to one and all a sincere “Vergelt’s Gott”!