(March 17, 2010) Every week on Wednesday, 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. The Holy Father delivers a spiritual reflection
and greets various groups in their languages, including in English. The General
Audience of March 17 was held in the open in St. Peter’s Square during which Pope
Benedict delivered a reflection in English. He later referred to the child abuse
scandal in Ireland’s Catholic Church. Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sisters, In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the
Middle Ages, we turn once more to Saint Bonaventure. Bonaventure was a contemporary
of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and the two great theologians reveal the rich diversity of
the theology of the thirteenth century. Whereas Thomas saw theology as primarily
a theoretical science, concerned with knowing God, Bonaventure saw it as practical,
concerned with that “wisdom” which enables us to love God and conform our wills to
his. Thomas’s emphasis on truth complements Bonaventure’s emphasis on love within
the unity of a great common vision. As a Franciscan, Bonaventure reflects the primacy
of love embodied in the life of Saint Francis. He was also deeply influenced by the
theology of Pseudo-Dionysius, with its emphasis on the heavenly hierarchies which
serve as steps leading the creature to communion with the Triune God. Pseudo-Dionysius
also inspired his reflections on the darkness of the Cross, where, in the ascent of
the mind to God, reason can go no further and love enters the divine mystery. As
a great master of prayer, Bonaventure invites us to let our minds and hearts rise
from the contemplation of creation to rest in God’s eternal love. Today
is the feast of Saint Patrick, and in a special way I greet all the Irish faithful
and pilgrims here present. As you know, in recent months the Church in Ireland has
been severely shaken as a result of the child abuse crisis. As a sign of my deep
concern I have written a Pastoral Letter dealing with this painful situation. I will
sign it on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Guardian of the Holy Family and Patron
of the Universal Church, and send it soon after. I ask all of you to read it for
yourselves, with an open heart and in a spirit of faith. My hope is that it will
help in the process of repentance, healing and renewal. I welcome all the
English-speaking visitors, especially those from England, Ireland, Denmark, Indonesia
and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I invoke God’s abundant
blessings..