(15 Apr 09 - RV) Pope Benedict was flown by the white Papal helicopter to the Vatican
Wednesday from Castel Gandolfo where he is spending the Octave of Easter.
The Holy Father
was greeted by a crowded St Peter’s Square, where pilgrim groups from Slovakia, Australia,
Indonesia and Mexico were among those gathered to hear his first general audience
of the liturgical season of Easter.
There he told them that all Christians
are called to proclaim Christ’s Resurrection:
“The Easter Sequence sings the
victory of the Lord of life who, after a heroic struggle with death, now lives triumphant.
After the Via Crucis of Good Friday, our solemn Easter Vigil sets us on a Via
Lucis marked by consolation, peace and hope. It is fundamental for our faith
and our Christian witness that we proclaim the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as
a real, historical event”.
Pope Benedict went on to say that Christ’s resurrection
transformed the meaning of life for everyone of every time, adding a new dimension
to the significance of life, death and suffering:
“His resurrection was not
a simple return to existence, but an entrance into a new dimension of life meant to
transform every human being, all history and the whole cosmos. Saint Paul, writing
to the Corinthians, reminded them of what was transmitted from the beginning, namely
that Christ died and rose from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. As the
Suffering Servant of God, Jesus purified us from our guilt by carrying our sins and
interceding for us. By dying he put an end to death, and by rising he brought new
life to the world. May the joy of the resurrection of Christ give us courage to live
his Gospel faithfully and bear witness to it generously!”
Thousands of pilgrims
are here in the eternal city to take part in Easter celebrations and on Wednesday
they were in high spirits. Pope Benedict struggled to make himself heard as he greeted
them in various languages including English:
"I offer a warm welcome to all
the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims present at today’s audience. I extend
particular greetings to the groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden,
Malta, Australia, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. May your pilgrimage
to the Eternal City strengthen your faith and renew your love for the Lord, the Giver
of Life. I wish all of you a happy Easter!"
And after a farewell tour of the
Square in his open topped Pope-mobile, Pope Benedict made his way beneath the Arch
of the Bells to the helipad in Vatican City and from there to Castel Gandolfo. There
he will celebrate his 82nd birthday Thursday and recite the Regina Coeli
before returning to the Apostolic Palace Sunday evening.