Pope Benedict Eager to Address the World of Culture
(September 11, 2008) Benedict XVI is looking forward to addressing the French world
of culture this week, says a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi,
director of the Vatican press office and Vatican Radio, told reporters Tuesday that
the Pope is preparing with great care the address he will deliver Friday afternoon
to individuals from the world of thought, science and art, as well as representatives
of UNESCO and the European Union. The gathering will take place at the recently restored
College of the Bernardines in Paris. The Pontiff will travel Friday-Monday to Paris
and Lourdes. His visit to the Marian shrine, which begins Saturday, takes place in
the context of the 150th anniversary of apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous.
Father Lombardi said the Holy Father's address to the world of culture "is greatly
anticipated. It is a text that the Pope has prepared with great eagerness." The text
originally written in German has been translated into French which contains Pope’s
teachings and the relationship between faith and reason. The place of the meeting
is very symbolic, said Father Lombardi, as "it has a great history." It is an architectural
complex founded in 1245 by a Cistercian monk at the request of Pope Innocent IV, who
was convinced that the renewal of the Church should be through study. He further
explained that Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, deceased archbishop of Paris, "succeeded
in having the Church recover the use of this centre as the place of meeting between
the Church and culture." Pope will inaugurate this newly renewed church during his
visit. During his stay in Paris, the Holy Father will meet with political leaders,
representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as representatives of
the other Christian Churches.