Pope Benedict XVI ‘s message to US says “world has need of hope”

(April 8, 2008) “Christ is our hope” is the theme of my first visit to the US, Pope Benedict XVI says in his message to the US, prior to his upcoming April 15-20 visit to the country. “ I come to proclaim this great truth that Jesus Christ is the hope for men and women of every language, culture and social condition, and I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country,” says the Pope, and adds that he will bring this message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations and to the representatives of all the people of the world . “The world”, he says, “has greater need of hope than ever before – hope for justice and for freedom ,and this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God.” The Pope says that the intention behind his first visit, is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the US, though he will visit only two cities – Washington and New York. But he hopes that his presence among them, will be seen as a fraternal gesture toward every ecclesial community, and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men of goodwill. The Pope concludes his message saying he is close to all of them, especially to the sick, the weak the lonely and the abandoned.