Pope Benedict XVI’s Address to the Pilgrims of the Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de 'Tirreni

(November 22, 2008) Looking to the example and resorting to the intercession of Saint Andrew, you want to give it new momentum to your apostolic and missionary vocation, enlarging the prospects of your heart to the expectations of peace between peoples, intensifying prayer for unity among all Christians. Vocation, mission and ecumenism are the three key words that you have driven in this spiritual and pastoral commitment, which today receives encouragement from Pope to continue with generosity and enthusiasm, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was speaking to the 3000 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de Tirreni, on Saturday 22^nd of November at Paul VI Auditorium Rome. The Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de' Tirreni is a Roman Catholic archbishopric, which has its archiepiscopal see at Amalfi, not far from Naples, Italy. The Pope welcomed the priests, deacons and seminarians, religious, lay people engaged in various pastoral activities, the youth, the choir and the sick together with the civil authorities who have come on this pilgrimage. He reminded them of his personal visit in 1996 to the relics of St Andrew their patron preserved in the cathedral from the 4^th Century. The Pontiff then spoke of Sunday’s feast of Christ the king and the Word of God tells of Christ, King universal, as we see God as good and merciful Shepherd and just Judge. This Christ is identified with his "brethren", and the trial will be the final statement of what has already happened in the earthly life. Inviting them to respond to his call the Pope said that they must choose the way of being effective and generous towards their neighbour, allowing him to extend his dominion over time and space.