Pope says conversion will bring peace; greetings for Chinese New Year

(January 26, 2009) If Christians allow themselves to be continually converted to the Lord, the day of full Christian unity will not be far away. Pope Benedict XVI affirmed this on Sunday before praying the midday ‘Angelus’ with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. Dedicating his reflection to Sunday's feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Pope Benedict said that many prefer to call the transformation in the former persecutor of Christians as metanoia, or change of heart, rather than conversion. "His conversion and ours,” the Pope said, “consists in this: in believing in Jesus dead and risen and in opening up to the illumination of his divine grace. "Entrusting myself to the power of his forgiveness, letting myself be led by the hand by him, I can get out of the quicksand of pride and sin, of lies and sadness, of selfishness and every false certainty, to know and live the richness of his love," Pope Benedict said.
After praying the ‘angelus’, Pope Benedict specially greeted the children of Rome’s Catholic Action group, who were involved throughout the month in meetings, reflections, and activities connected with what is called the “Caravan of Peace”. At the end of the Angelus two children and the Pontiff together released two white doves. Pope Benedict also extended his Best Wishes for Chinese New Year to all the peoples of East Asia who follow the Lunar Year and who started the Year of the Ox on Monday. The Pope wished them joy saying it the expression of when we are in harmony with ourselves, which comes about when we in harmony with God and his creation.
Pope Benedict also greeted Englissh-speaking groups present in St. Peter's Square for the 'Angelus'.
Listen:
I am pleased to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims gathered for this Angelus. Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. In this year dedicated to the Apostle of all Nations, and in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, let us implore the Lord to help us achieve the full unity of his Body once more!
Today I also wish to mention this year’s Message for World Communications Day which was released on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of Journalists. The Message concerns the new technologies which have made the internet a resource of utmost importance, especially for the so-called “digital generation”. Undoubtedly, wise use of communications technology enables communities to be formed in ways that promote the search for the true, the good and the beautiful, transcending geographical boundaries and ethnic divisions. To this end, the Vatican has launched a new initiative which will make information and news from the Holy See more readily accessible on the world wide web. It is my hope that this initiative will enrich a wide range of people – including those who have yet to find a response to their spiritual yearning – through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ whose message of Good News the Church bears to the ends of the earth (cf. Mt 28:20)!