Holy See spokesman wishes Pope on his name feast

(March 19, 2012) Holy See’s spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi wished Pope Benedict XVI on his feast day of St. Joseph, on behalf Vatican Radio, Vatican Television Centre and the Holy See Press Office that Fr. Lombardi heads. In wishing the Pope, who was baptized Joseph, Fr. Lombardi recalled a homily that the German Pope delivered at a Vespers service in Yaounde, Cameroun, on March 19, 2009, which, he said, points to “his devotion to this humble and sublime model, the source of his inspiration.” “St. Joseph governed his family like one who serves,” the Pope had said at the Vespers. “St. Joseph teaches us that one can love without possessing and reveals to us the secret of living in the presence of the mystery.” “There is no separation between faith and action in him because his actions are decisively guided by his faith,” the Pope said. “He is a ‘just man’ because his life is always ‘tuned’ to the Word of God.” Fr. Lombardi said, “In this spirit we all wish him from our hearts a serene and supportive feast, in view of his upcoming commitments of faith and service.