2009-11-11 15:39:55

Pope's General Audience of Nov. 11 – appeal for Sri Lanka’s displaced


(November 11, 2009) Every week on Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called the general audience, during which pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance of seeing and hearing him speak. The Holy Father delivers a spiritual reflection and greets various groups in their languages, including in English. The General Audience of Nov. 11 was held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. It began with several aides reading a scripture passage in various languages. An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims, and presented the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then delivered a reflection in English.
The text follows:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the Middle Ages, we now turn to the monastic reform linked to the great monastery of Cluny. Founded eleven hundred years ago, Cluny restored the strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict and made the Church’s liturgy the centre of its life. It stressed the solemn celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and Holy Mass, and enriched the worship of God with splendid art, architecture and music. The monastic liturgy, seen as a foretaste of the heavenly liturgy, was accompanied by a daily regime marked by silence and intercessory prayer. Cluny’s reputation for sanctity and learning caused its influence to spread to monasteries throughout Europe. Exempt from interference by feudal authorities, the monastery freely elected its abbots and flourished under a series of outstanding spiritual leaders like Saints Odo and Hugh. Cluny also contributed to the reform of the universal Church by its concern for holiness, the restoration of clerical celibacy and the elimination of simony. At a formative time of Europe’s history, Cluny helped to forge the Continent’s Christian identity by its emphasis on the primacy of the spirit, respect for human dignity, commitment to peace and an authentic and integral humanism.
I cordially welcome the English-speaking visitors in attendance at today’s Audience. I particularly greet pilgrims from the Diocese of Fort Worth, students and staff from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Diocesan Directors of Communications from England and Wales, as well as priests from Japan. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!

After speaking to other groups in their languages, Pope Benedict made a heartfelt appeal to Sri Lanka to accelerate the process of returning war-displaced Tamils to their homes following the end of the government’s 25-year-old civil war with separatist Tamil in May. The Holy Father commended the efforts of Sri Lankan government authorities in the past weeks to facilitate the return of the displaced. Speaking in Italian, the Pope said, “I heartily encourage an acceleration of this commitment and urge all citizens to strive for peace with full respect for human rights and for a just political solution to the challenges still facing the country.” The Holy Father also urged the international community to work for the humanitarian and economic needs of Sri Lanka, and raised a prayer to Sri Lanka’s Holy Virgin of Madhu, to continue to watch over the beloved land.
The Pope wound up his Wednesday General Audience with his blessing.







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