Pope concludes 3-day Austrian pilgrimage

(Sept. 10, 2007) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday evening concluded a 3-day pastoral visit to Austria and returned to his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome. The purpose of the Pope’s visit was to mark the 850 years of the national Marian shrine of Mariazell on Saturday. On leaving Austrian soil at Vienna’s International airport Pope Benedict said that said he will remember with gratitude the three days filled with memorable experiences. “I feel that I have come to know even better this beautiful country and its people,” he said. The throngs of people that attended the mass at the Mariazell sanctuary, the Pope said should in itself be an inspiration to look to Christ together with Mary, and face with courage the future of this country, of the continent and of the whole world. He wished that 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 Austria. Vienna, faithful to its rich history and its location in the vital centre of Europe, the Pope said, 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.
After Sunday’s morning Mass Pope Benedict later met the Cistercian monks of Heiligenkreuz, or Holy Cross. He spoke to them about vocations to the religious life, and how this is a treasure so precious that one should do everything possible to ensure formation which promotes faith and reason, heart and mind, expressing his concern that the theology taught in the Pontifical Academy named after him there should not just be about reason but also about prayer. Before his departure from Vienna he met the representatives and volunteers of Austria’s charitable organizations at Vienna’s Konzerthaus. The many thousands of volunteers with their readiness to help others, daily portray humanity’s noblest features, wherein believers can recognize the love of Christ, the Pope added.