Pope’s Sunday ‘Angelus’ of Aug. 29

(August 30, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday he was constantly praying for the Chilean miners trapped underground and urged them to remain calm as efforts continue to free them. Speaking to pilgrims and tourists after his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father assured the 33 men and their families that he was spiritually close to them and was praying for a “happy conclusion» to their ordeal. The men have been trapped in a mine 700 meters below the Atacama Desert since Aug. 5. Chilean officials say it could take months to drill an escape tunnel to free them. Speaking in Spanish, the Pope said he was thinking “with particular affection” about the miners, assuring them of his spiritual closeness and his continual prayers, so that they remain serene in hopes of a happy conclusion to the work that's being done to rescue them. At Sunday’s ‘Angelus’, Pope Benedict also mentioned “Save Creation Day”, sponsored by Italy’s Catholic Bishops, which will be celebrated on 1 September. Calling the event an important tradition at the ecumenical level as well, the Pope said, “This year reminds us that peace cannot be achieved without respect for the environment.” “We have in fact a duty to pass the earth onto the next generations in such state that they can live in it with dignity and further preserve it. May the Lord help us in this task!” he added.
Earlier, before the ‘Angelus’prayer, Pope Benedict reflected on Sunday’s Gospel of Luke where Jesus urges people through a parable to humble themselves and take the lowest place at the wedding banquet and not invite friends, brothers, relatives or wealthy neighbours but the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind who cannot repay. The Pontiff pointed out that through the parable, Jesus underscores “man’s position in relation to God,” who Himself set the example by taking “the lowest place in the world - the Cross,” and by this radical humility he redeemed us and constantly comes to our aid. The Holy Father exhorted all to look up to Christ as the model of humility and selflessness and learn how to be patient against temptations, lenient towards insults and obedient towards God when in pain and awaiting His reward to move to a higher position.