Pope explains Easter Triduum, shares pain of Italy's quake victims

(April 8, 2009) Every week on Wednesdays, the Pope holds a public meeting, called the general audience, during which pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance of seeing and hearing him speak. During the general audience the Pope delivers a reflection and greets various groups in their languages. The General Audience of April 8 was held in St. Peter’s Square. An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims, presenting the various groups to him, after which Pope Benedict spoke in English.
Listen!
Dear Brothers and Sisters, tomorrow we begin the Holy Triduum, the heart of the entire liturgical year: a time when we immerse ourselves in the central events of our Redemption. The Chrism Mass serves as a prelude to these three days, as priests renew their promises to the Bishop, who then blesses the holy oils and consecrates the chrism signifying the gift of the Holy Spirit. At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we recall the institution of the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ’s love for us. As we venerate his Cross on Good Friday, we contemplate the full meaning of his words: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mk 14:24). Holy Saturday finds us waiting in silent hope for the Easter Vigil, when every church will break forth in a song of joy at the Lord’s Resurrection. The celebration of the Paschal mystery recalls the depth of Christ’s love: he did not wish to exercise his divinity as an exclusive possession, a means of domination, or a sign of distance between him and us. Rather, “he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:7) by sharing fully in our human condition, even to the point of death: not a death imposed by blind chance or fate, but one freely chosen in obedience to the Father’s will for the salvation for all. May our fervent celebration of the Triduum draw us ever more deeply into Christ’s Paschal mystery! I am pleased to greet the English-speaking pilgrims present at today’s Audience. May your visit to Rome during this Holy Week fill you with the peace, hope and joy of Christ Jesus!

After addressing other groups in their languages Pope Benedict renewed his spiritual closeness with the people of central Italy’s L’Aquila city and surrounding areas, which were severely hit by a violent earthquake early Monday morning. Speaking in Italian, the Holy Father expressed sadness over the numerous victims, the many wounded and the untold material damage caused by the 6.3 magnitude quake. “The solicitude with which the authorities, police, volunteers and other workers are helping these our brothers,” the Pope said, “demonstrates how important solidarity is in order to overcome such painful trials together. Earlier on Monday, in a message Pope Benedict had expressed his condolences to the affected people. At Wednesday’s general audience the Pope said he would once more wish to tell the dear people that the Holy Father was sharing their pain and anxieties. He told them he would come to visit them as soon as possible, but did not specify when. He assured them that the Pope prays for all, imploring the Lord’s mercy for the dead, and the maternal comfort of Mary and the support of Christian hope for their families and survivors.
Pope Benedict concluded the General Audience with his blessing. Listen!