Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday celebrated Mass marking the feast of Saints Peter and
Paul, patron saints of the city of Rome. During the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope
also conferred the Pallium on 40 new Metropolitan archbishops, from countries all
over the world, who have been appointed over the past year. Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s
report…
Attending
the Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning was a special delegation of three
Orthodox leaders representing the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew
I, part of a traditional exchange of ecumenical delegations which has helped to strengthen
the bonds of friendship between the Churches of the East and West since shortly after
the 2nd Vatican Council. But the Mass also marked a personal moment
of reflection for the Pope himself who was celebrating the 60th anniversary
of his own ordination to the priesthood.
“Sixty years on from the day of my
priestly ordination….
In his homily Pope Benedict said that sixty years on
from his ordination, he can still hear the words that were addressed to the new young
priests that day in 1951, the words of St John’s Gospel, ‘I no longer call you servants
but friends.’ Words, the Pope added, that bring great inner joy and can also be seen
as the entire programme of a priestly life.
“Friendship is not just about knowing
someone, it is above all a communion of the will..
Reflecting on the meaning
of that friendship with Christ, the Pope said it is above all learning to grow in
ever greater conformity with His will, to know Him better through the Scriptures,
through prayer, through the communion of Saints. Jesus’ words on friendship, he said,
should be seen in the context of His commission to His followers to go and make disciples
of all nations – a command which challenges us to move beyond the boundaries of our
own world and to bring the Gospel to all people.
“On the feast of Saints Peter
and Paul my most cordial greeting goes first of all to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
1st …
After his intimate reflection on the meaning of his own priestly
ministry, the Pope also greeted the Orthodox delegation present in the Basilica, as
well as the new Metropolitan Archbishops who received the white, woollen Pallum, a
symbol of service and a sign of a communion with St Peter and his successors. Pope
Benedict concluded with heartfelt words of thanks to the Lord for the past six decades
of his own service to the Church, as well as thanks to all the people who, he said,
have formed and accompanied me.