Italian president honours Pope with concert

(May 1, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI proposed that music becomes prayer and the "abandonment of the heart to God" when he gave thanks on Thursday evening for a concert held in honour of his fourth anniversary of election as Pope. The concert held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall was offered in his honour by the president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. Pope Benedict XVI who marked four years as Pontiff on April 19, thanked President Napolitano for the concert, which, he said, "has richly been able not only to gratify the aesthetic sense, but at the same time, to nourish our spirit…” Among the more than 7000 people attending the concert were several Italian ministers as well as Napolitano’s wife. The Holy Father requested all to remember him in their prayers so that he can always fulfil his ministry as the Lord desires of him.
In an address at the start of the concert, President Napolitano extended warm wishes to the Pope Benedict on behalf of the people of Italy for his election anniversary. He also expressed appreciation for his thoughtful and faith-filled messages and for his closeness with the essential problems of our times. Napolitano particularly thanked the Holy Father for his visit last Tuesday to the quake hit areas of central Italy’s Abruzzo region. He also wished that the Pope’s upcoming visit to the Holy land, May 8-15 be able to contribute significantly to overcoming the lacerations, tensions and risks of war in the region.