(05 Mar 08 - RV) The Holy Father held his weekly General Audience today and continued
his catecheisis on the Fathers of the Church, this week focusing on Pope Saint Leo
the Great.
Pope Benedict began his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Basilica
where he was greeted by thousands of Italian students all eager to catch a glimpse
of him. With words of encouragement and welcome the Holy Father said to them that
school days were important for authentic and complete formation.
It was then
off to the Paul VI Hall where thousands more pilgrims and tourists greeted the Pope
and listened to his words. Last week Pope Benedict concluded his catechesis on a
favourite Saint of his Augustine. This week however it was on to another Father of
the Church Saint Leo the Great whom he described as one of the most influential Popes
in history.
He was born in Tuscia and became Bishop of Rome in 440 during times
of severe social unrest. Since the Roman Emperor’s authority had practically disappeared
in the West, and Italy was suffering from frequent Barbarian incursions, Pope Leo
took it upon himself to protect Rome. His courageous meeting in Mantua with Attila
the Hun, whom he convinced to desist from his plans to devastate the city, is the
most well known, but not the only event of its kind. Pope Leo promoted the Primacy
of the Bishop of Rome as the successor of the Apostle Peter, and exercised this ministry
in the East and the West with great prudence, pastoral sensitivity and wisdom. The
Bishops attending the important Council of Chalcedon in 451, acclaimed the text he
sent concerning faith in Jesus, true God and true man, with the words: “Peter has
spoken through the mouth of Leo”.
The Holy Father went to say the Pope Leo
left behind him a rich collection of works that can help us today in our everyday
lives.
Thanks to Pope Leo’s sermons and letters, we can still appreciate his
zeal and charity as pastor of the Church, and his theological depth and clarity.
He also shares with us his profound understanding of the liturgy, where he sees the
mysteries of salvation as present to our time and influential in our everyday realities.
May the life and example of Pope Saint Leo always remind us that the encounter with
God in Christ is the source of our joy and our salvation!
One of those present
at today’s audience was Bishop Emeritus of Shreveport, Louisiana, William Friend.
There were English speaking visitors from a broad spectrum of countries present
at today’s audience including England, Denmark, Sweden, Indonesia, Canada and the
United States.
The Holy Father welcomed them and concluded his audience by
reminding all the gathered faithful of the importance of this Lenten season which
he described as a time of purification and a renewal of faith and hope.