Pope Benedict’s Homily on the Solemnity of Peter and Paul

(June 29,2009) On Monday, at 9:30 am on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI presided over the Concelebrated High Mass in the Vatican Basilica with 34 new Metropolitan Archbishops from around the world that were given the Pallium. A delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was present for the Mass as the Feast of the Patrons of Rome was celebrated with great solemnity. After the Gospel and before the rite of blessing and imposition of the Pallium the Holy Father delivered his Homily. In the Pauline year which was concluded Sunday, the Pope said “we tried to listen to him again, "the teacher of the Gentiles", and so again to learn the alphabet of the faith. We tried to identify ourselves with Paul and Paul, who understood Christ, showed the way to the righteous Christian life.” The Holy Father then referred to the First Letter of Saint Peter which contains a greeting addressed from Rome to the Christendom of all time. It invites all to listen "to the teaching of the Apostles," which shows the way towards life. Starting from Christ, said the Holy Father, the letter is also an introduction to basic Christian sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist and an address to the priests, described as co-presbyters. The Priest is a shepherd and guardian of souls with Christ the Supreme Shepherd. The Pope added that it is surprising that Peter calls Christ bishop - Bishop of souls, meaning, "guardian" or "overseer". If Christ is the bishop of souls, the goal is to prevent the soul from losing the capacity for truth and love, he said. This means being a pastor - model of the flock: to live the Word now, in the great community of Holy Church. Finally turning to the new metropolitan Archbishops, the Pope said that the Pallium is woven with wool from lambs that the Pope blessed the feast of St Agnes. This reminds us of Christ himself, who as the Good Shepherd has taken upon his shoulders the lost sheep, the humanity, to return home whose example they ought to follow.