Bamberg Cathedral celebrates its millennium of consecration

May 12, 2012: ‘The Cathedral of Bamberg in Germany, is an extraordinary testimony of the power and beauty of faith’, said Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter to Archbishop Ludwig Schick of the archdiocese of Bamberg on the occasion of the millennium celebration of its consecration.

The celebration can render itself as the prelude of the Year of Faith that I have proclaimed to the whole Church. It can encourage all of you, priests and faithful, to rediscover and deepen the faith of your beautiful cathedral, the Pontiff said.

The Pope invited them to take a mental "visit" to this house of God, to hear the message that announces itself to them without using words. What distinguishes the cathedral from all other churches is the bishop's throne, situated in a prominent position. The chair is a throne, but also a pulpit for teaching. The bishop, as a teacher of Catholic truth, is the guarantor of the unity of the diocese, its priests and faithful, and this only in tune with the community of faithfuls in the universal Church, the Pope explained.

Altar is at the center of the Cathedral. The altar, which is the sacred place where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered, where the passion, death and resurrection are made present anew each day. The Eucharist is the "source and summit of life Christian". Altar is also the place where priests are ordained, and the holy oils - the Chrism, the catechumens and the sick – with which the holy sacraments are administered throughout the archdiocese. Really this altar is the heart of the entire archdiocese.

The Church of Jesus Christ is not merely an interest group, a joint venture, but a human society, and one who is called to service in the Church is not an official of the community, but is commissioned and sent by Jesus Christ.

Pope also highlighted the extraordinary tomb of saints Henry and Cunegonde. The Pontiff wished that the two royal saints may help the people to recognize what it means to live as Christians in the world. From the tomb of the imperial couple, a call comes for all to listen to the Word of the Gospel in the family, profession, society, economy and culture and to shape reality according to the earthly his spirit, Pope Benedict said.

Cathedral of Bamberg also houses the tomb of Pope Clement II, who even after his election as the Successor of Peter wanted to remain bishop of Bamberg, thus giving a significant test of unity with Rome and Bamberg. In close communion with the Successor of Peter and the Universal Church, we will find, even in the current crisis of faith, a certainty of faith and an unshakable confidence, the Pontiff added.