Pope to open Year of Faith

(Oct. 10, 2012 ) Pope Benedict XVI will open the “Year of Faith” on Thursday with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Concelebrating with the Holy Father will be Cardinals, Patriarchs, the Synodal Fathers, including presidents of bishops conferences worldwide and the major archbishops of the Oriental Catholic Churches. Some of the bishops concelebrating with the Pope had also participated in the Second Vatican Council. The date - 11th October for the inauguration of the Year of Faith was especially chosen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the 2nd Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism f the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict said “Half a century after the opening of the 2nd Vatican Council, I deem it right to recall the beauty of the role of faith, the need to reinforce it and to deepen it on a personal and community level.” This special year will conclude on the Feast of the solemnity of Christ the King – 24th November, 2013. Pope Benedict’s decision to invoke the “Year of Faith” is to give new impetus to the mission of the whole church and bring back to the fold those who have drifted away from the church.