Pope On Augustine

(09 Jan 08 - RV )A “towering figure” within the life of the Church, that’s how Pope Benedict XVI introduced the figure of 4^th century Saint Augustine of hippo, to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI audience hall this Wednesday, for the general audience.

“The great intellectual heritage of antiquity found expression in Augustine’s many writings, which then became a rich source of inspiration and teaching for centuries to come”.

Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims that to find out more about this saint they should turn to his writings.

“Augustine’s spiritual autobiography – The Confessions – tells the story of his Christian upbringing, his secular education, his decision to devote his life to the pursuit of truth, and his eventual abandonment of the faith. Attracted at first by Manichean dualism, he gradually recovered the faith of his childhood, thanks to the prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, and the brilliant teaching of Saint Ambrose, then Bishop of Milan”.

The Confessions, he said recount Augustine’s, tormented interior journey which led to his moral and intellectual conversion, culminating in his baptism by Ambrose.

“Returning to Africa to lead a monastic life, Augustine became a priest and then the Bishop of Hippo. In his thirty years as Bishop, he proved himself an exemplary pastor, an assiduous preacher and an influential champion of the Catholic faith”.

Such is the immense value of this great African saint that the Pope announced he will be dedicating his audience exclusively to him:

“In coming weeks, we will turn our attention to the writings and the thought of this great Doctor of the Church”.

On a lighter note, as he was greeting English speaking pilgrims to Rome Pope Benedict XVI was treated to an impromptu rendition of the Ave Maria by a choir who had journeyed from North America.

Thanking them the Pope wished them all a happy and peaceful stay in the eternal city.