The traditional press conference held by the Pope en route to Spain, was introduced
today by the Papal spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi who revealed that there
are over 3.000 accredited Spanish journalists following - what he called – “a brief
but interesting” apostolic journey. On his journey to visit the Shrine of Santiago
de Compostela, the first question put to the Pope concerned the very concept of
being a “pilgrim” in his life and in his spirituality. Benedict notes that he has
spoken at length of his feelings of being a pilgrim on a journey of faith in his biography.
However, he said, the sense of instability in this life points to the fact that God
is everywhere, and it is not really necessary to seek him out in different geographical
venues. It is also true, he explained, that in it’s essence, faith is “being a pilgrim”.
The letter to the Hebrews illustrates the meaning of faith in the figure of Abraham
who leaves his land and is a pilgrim on his journey towards the future for the rest
of his life. This Abrahamic movement – Pope Benedict explained - is an example of
how you can show faith in an interior manner, but – he said - it is necessary to express
faith in an exterior manner as well, and sometimes to transcend the utalitarism of
daily life, in a journey towards transcendence. But – the Pope said – being a pilgrim
is not only transcending from oneself, but treading the path together communion and
recipricol recognition. And he referred to the way of St. James as an important element
in the formation of the spiritual unity of the European continent. Today – the Pope
said - the need to renew this movement of spiritual union is in the forefront. Asked
what significance does the consecration of a temple like the Sagrada Familia have
at the beginning of the 21st century, and whether there is any particular
element of Gaudi’s vision he finds especially remarkable, the Pope said that the
Cathedral is a sign for our time. In Gaudi’s vision- he said - there are three elements
that I find particularly significant: the first is the synthesis between continuity
and novelty, between tradition and creativity. Gaudi, he continued, had the courage
to take up the challenge of building a cathedral with totally new architectural concepts
that however contained the idea of creating a place of meeting between man and God.
With great solemnity and with great courage, Gaudi’s new creativity stayed within
tradition demonstrating the unity of history and its progress. Secondly, the Pope
said, Gaudi wanted this trinomial: book of nature, book of scripture and book of liturgy.
This synthesis, he said, today is of great importance. This synthesis between creation,
scripture and adoration is a very important message for our society Thirdly: this
cathedral was born from a typically 19th century devotion: a devotion to
the holy family of Nazareth. But this very adoration is again of great actuality because
the renewal of the role of the family in society shows us the way to build a society
in which there is unity between faith, religion and family. Family- Benedict underlined
- is a fundamental theme for society today. And finally, responding to a question
about the place of faith in the world of art and culture, the Pope said that he often
highlights the relationship between faith and reason. Equally important, he said,
is the relationship between faith and art. We need beauty – he pointed out - because
truth and beauty are indivisible. Today there are currents of dissent that harm art
and that harm faith he said. And art that does not go towards God is crippled, just
as faith that turns only towards to the art of the past does not speak to the present.
Just as Gaudi expressed faith through art, Benedict concluded, art today must not
lose its contact with faith.