Pope Benedict XVI’s Wednesday General Audience

(23 Aug. 2006) : It is a traditional practice with the Pope to hold a public meeting, called the General Audience, every Wednesday with pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome and want to see him. During the general audience he delivers a spiritual reflection and greets various groups in their languages, including in English. On Wednesday 23 August, the Pontiff kept his appointment with thousands of faithful and pilgrims, who had gathered in Vatica’s Pope Paul VI hall. Pope Benedict’s catechesis began with an aide reading a passage from the book of Revelation. Pope Benedict then read a summary of his catechesis in several languages. Addressing the English-speaking pilgrims, the Pope said:

Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Continuing our reflections on the teaching of the Apostle John, we now consider the Book of Revelation. The seer of Patmos, identified with the Apostle, is granted a series of visions meant to reassure the Christians of Asia amid the persecutions and trials of the end of the first century. John’s central vision is that of the Lamb once slain, who now stands victoriously before God’s throne, sharing in the Father’s kingship and power (5:6ff.). He alone is able to open the mysterious book closed with seven seals and to reveal, in the light of his own triumph over persecution and death, the ultimate meaning of history in God’s providential plan. The certain unfolding of God’s victory is seen in John’s visions of the Woman who gives birth to a Son destined to rule the nations (12:1ff.), the final defeat of the Dragon, and the heavenly Jerusalem, prepared as a bride adorned for the wedding feast (21:2ff.). As his book draws to an end, John invites Christians of every time and place to trust in the victory of the Lamb and to hope for the coming of God’s Kingdom: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20).”

After the Catechesis, the Pontiff greeted the pilgrims in various languages. To the English-speaking visitors he said, “I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, including the pilgrims from Taiwan, Japan and the United States of America. May your visit to Rome renew your faith in the Church, the bride of Christ, and may the Lord’s definitive victory over all evil fill you with hope and courage. I invoke upon you God’s blessings of joy and peace.”

Pope Benedict concluded the audience with his Apostolic Blessing.