Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Freiburg. After visiting the Cathedral, and reciting
the Angelus, the Pope greeted the people of the city in the Cathedral square. He told
them he had come to Freiburg “in order to pray together with you, to proclaim the
word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.”
Full text of Pope Benedict
XVI’s remarks to the citizens of Freiburg
Dear Friends, With
great joy I greet you all and I thank you for your kind welcome. After the wonderful
meetings that took place in Berlin and Erfurt, I am happy now to be here in Freiburg
with you. A special word of thanks goes to Archbishop Robert Zollitsch for his invitation
and his gracious words of welcome. “Where God is, there is a future”, as the motto
of this Pastoral Visit reminds us. As the Successor of Saint Peter, who was commissioned
by the Lord to strengthen his brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), I too have come willingly to
you, in order to pray together with you, to proclaim the word of God and to celebrate
the Eucharist. I ask for your prayers, that these days will be fruitful, that God
will deepen our faith, strengthen our hope and increase our love. During these days,
may we become aware once more how much God loves us and how good he is, so that we
may trustingly place ourselves and all our cares and concerns into his hands. In
him our future is assured: he gives meaning to our lives and can bring them to fulfilment.
May the Lord accompany you in peace and make you messengers of joy!