Pope Benedict XVI Continues Pauline Reflections at Weekly General Audience

(22 Oct 08 - RV) Pope Benedict greeted thousands of pilgrims in the warmth of the Roman October sun during his Wednesday general audience.

The Holy Father continued his catechesis on Saint Paul, and focused this week on the centrality of Jesus Christ to his message.

“Paul preaches Christ as the crucified and glorified Lord, alive and present within the Church. He proclaims Christ’s incarnation and exaltation, but also his pre-existence with the Father before all time. His affirmation of Christ’s pre-existence evokes those Old Testament texts which portray God’s Wisdom as being with him before creation and coming down to dwell among men (e.g., Pr 8:22-23). Paul thus presents Christ as “the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24), the centre and fulfilment of the Father’s eternal plan of salvation.”

Pope Benedict then went on to discuss how Paul emphasized that Christ was not a created being, and unlike the Angels and other spiritual beings known to the Jews.

“The hymn found in his Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:6-11) contrasts Christ’s pre-existence “in the form of God” and his subsequent “kenosis” or self-emptying, “even to death, death on a Cross”. Paul also appeals to Christ’s pre-existence and incarnation in proclaiming Jesus as “the one mediator between God and man” (1 Tim 3:16), the firstborn of all creation and the head of the Church (cf. Col 1:15-20). Paul’s “sapiential” christology invites us to welcome the salvation offered by the crucified and risen Lord, the Eternal Son, who is the very wisdom and power of God.”


Pope Benedict announced earlier this year that he would offer extended catechesis on the Apostle to the Gentiles during this Pauline year.