Pope's 'Angelus' message on trip to Holy Land, Women's Day, spiritual retreat

(March 9, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday announced he will visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories in May in a trip that will include a stop at Jerusalem's memorial to Holocaust victims. In his first trip as pope to the Holy Land, he will visit the Jordanian capital Amman before heading for Jerusalem, and Nazareth in Israel, and Palestinian-ruled Bethlehem. "I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord, by visiting the places sanctified by his earthly passage, for the precious gift of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all humanity," Pope Benedict told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square after reciting weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer. Besides the Pope’s declaration, the Vatican as well as the nunciature in Jordan also confirmed the Pope’s May 8-15 visit. The trip will be the first by a pope to the Holy Land since Pope John Paul II visited in 2000. Though a detailed program has not yet been announced, officials in destination countries have said they expect Pope Benedict to visit an Amman mosque, hold public Mass in Jordan and Nazareth and make a stop at the Yad Vashem memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, which John Paul visited in 2000. Pope Paul VI made an unofficial trip there in 1964. Pope Benedict also asked the faithful for their spiritual support for his upcoming trip to Cameroon and Angola, March 17-23. He said the African trip would concretely show his and Church’s closeness to the Christians and the people of the continent, very dear to him.
Pope Benedict also drew attention to March 8^th International Women’s Day and called for a renewal of the commitment to respect the dignity and vocation of all women everywhere. "Today's date invites us to reflect on the condition of women and to renew our commitment, that always and everywhere every woman can live and fully manifest her particular abilities, obtaining complete respect for her dignity," the Pope said after praying the ‘Angelus’ at midday on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square . He recalled Pope John Paul II's letter, "Mulieris Dignitatem" as well as various expressions of the Church’s teachings in upholding this value for the dignity of women. "Of more worth than the documents themselves is the testimony of the saints," particularly "that of Mother Teresa of Calcutta: humble daughter of Albania," Pope Benedict observed. He said “by God’s grace, she became an example of charity in the service of human promotion to all the world." He paid homage to numerous other women who work in a hidden way every day for the good of humanity and for the Kingdom of God! The Holy Father pledged his prayers for all women, that they be evermore respected in their dignity and valued in their positive possibilities."
Before reciting the midday ‘Angelus’ prayer on Sunday Pope Benedict shared with the faithful his experience of spiritual retreat that he had last week with members of the Roman curia. "It was a week of silence and prayer: the mind and heart were able to dedicate themselves entirely to God, to listening to his Word, to meditation on the mysteries of Christ," the Pope said emphasising the need for prayer as a means of spiritual growth, to unite one's will with God and immerse oneself in his love. He likened his retreat experience to that of the apostles who saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain, as narrated in Sunday’s Gospel. "Jesus' transfiguration was essentially an experience of prayer," the Holy Father emphasized. Pope Benedict exhorted his listeners to find during this time of Lent, moments of prolonged silence, perhaps a retreat, to reflect on their life in the light of heavenly Father's plan of love.
Pope Benedict also addressed English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for the 'Angelus' prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.
Listen: I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer. On this, the Second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel invites us to ponder the mystery of Christ’s Transfiguration, to acknowledge him as the incarnate Son of God, and to follow him along the way that leads to the saving mystery of his Cross and Resurrection. During this Lenten season, may you grow closer to the Lord in prayer, and may he shed the light of his face upon you and your families!