(January 11, 2012) 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 in several languages. The general audience of Jan.
11 was held indoors in the Paul VI audience hall in the Vatican. It began with a
scripture passage from the Gospel of Matthew read in several languages. An aide greeted
the Pope on behalf of the English speaking pilgrims introducing the various groups
to him. Pope Benedict then delivered a discourse in English.
Listen: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In our continuing catechesis on
Christian prayer, we now turn to the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper, when our
Lord instituted the Eucharist, the sacrament of his Body and Blood. Jesus’ gift of
himself anticipates his sacrifice on the Cross and his glorious Resurrection. The
Eucharist is the supreme prayer of Jesus and of his Church. At the Last Supper, with
its overtones of the Passover and the commemoration of Israel’s liberation, Jesus’
prayer echoes the Hebrew berakah, which includes both thanksgiving and the gift of
a blessing. His act of breaking the bread and offering the cup on the night before
he died becomes the sign of his redemptive self-oblation in obedience to the Father’s
will: he thus appears as the true paschal lamb who brings the ancient worship to fulfilment.
Jesus’ prayer also invokes strength for his disciples, especially Peter (cf. Lk 22:31-32).
May our celebration of the Eucharist, in obedience to Christ’s command, unite us more
deeply to his prayer at the Last Supper and enable us, in union with him, to offer
our lives ever more fully in sacrifice to the Father. I greet the many school
groups from the United States present at today’s Audience, including the deacons from
Saint Paul’s Seminary in Minnesota. My greeting also goes to the students of Carmel
College in New Zealand. I welcome the participants in the Interfaith Journey from
Canada. Upon all the English-speaking visitors and their families I cordially invoke
God’s abundant blessings!