Pope Angelus: Violence never serves humanity. Appeal for Madagascar.

“Violence never serves humanity – it only dehumanises.” This was the Pope’s message at Sunday’s Angelus address, as he commented upon the Gospel passage of the Purification of the Temple.

Pope Benedict described our Lord’s action of driving the money-changers as prophetic. “Indeed,” he said, “the prophets, in the name of God, often denounced abuses, and they sometimes did so with symbolic gestures.” It is impossible to describe Jesus as violent, the Pope said, because “violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God; it is a tool of the Antichrist.”

After the Angelus, the Holy Father launched an appeal for the people of Madagascar hit by a devastating tropical storm. “My thoughts go first to the dear people of Madagascar, who have recently been hit by severe natural disasters, with serious damage to people, structures and crops. While I assure my prayers for the victims and the families of those so greatly tried, I hope for and encourage the generous assistance of the international community.”

Finally, Pope Benedict greeted pilgrims from around the world, including those from English speaking countries: “I greet the English-speaking visitors present for this Angelus prayer, including the Neo-catechumenal Community from Bristol. In today’s Gospel Jesus foretells his resurrection and points to the temple which is his body, the Church. May our meditation on these mysteries deepen our union with the Lord and his Church. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings!”

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