Pope's Sunday 'Regina Coeli' - condolences to Poland, recalls Divine Mercy, Turin Shroud

(April 12, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday offered his heartfelt condolences to the Polish people after their president and other top leaders of the country flying with him perished in a plane crash in western Russia on Saturday. The Pope recalled the tragedy after his weekly midday ‘Regina Coeli’ prayer at the summer papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome. The ageing Tupolev plane of Polish President Lech Kaczynski crashed in thick fog near Smolensk in western Russia, killing all 97 people on board. Kaczynski had been planning to mark the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Polish officers by Soviet secret police in the forest of Katyn, near Smolensk. Among the dead are Kaczynski , his wife, other high authorities of the Polish state and all of their entourage, including the archbishop of the military chaplaincy. "In expressing my deepest condolences, from my heart I assure intercessory prayers for the victims and prayers of support for the beloved Polish nation,” the Pope said. The previous day, Saturday, the Pope sent a condolence message to Bronisław Komorowski, the president of the Polish parliament, mourning the death of the president and his team. "I entrust all the victims of this dramatic incident to the goodness of the merciful God. May he welcome them into his glory," the Pope said in his message, mentioning several victims of the disaster. The Holy Father offered to the families of the victims and all the people of Poland his sincere condolences, assuring them of his spiritual closeness.
Another thought related to Poland came during the Pope's reflection before Sunday’s ‘Regina Caeli’ prayer. It was linked to the Sunday after Easter, which Pope John Paul II designated "Divine Mercy" Sunday, on the occasion of the canonization of the Polish nun, Sister Faustina Kowalska , on April 30, 2000. Reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel of the doubting Thomas, Pope Bendcidt said that in reality, Divine Mercy allows us to learn even from Thomas’ incredulity as well as from the disciples who believed. “In fact, touching the wounds of the Lord, the hesitant disciple not only heals his, but also our suspicion," the Pope said. Recalling the gift of the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins gifted by Jesus to his disciples at the Last Supper, he added: "This is the mission of the Church constantly assisted by the Paraclete: to bring to everyone the good news, the joyful reality of the merciful love of God.” "In light of this word - he concluded – I particularly encourage, all pastors to follow the example of the Curé d'Ars, who, 'in his time, was able to transform hearts and lives of many people, because he managed to make them feel the Lord's merciful love.


Zenit - Pope Notes Hopes for Shroud of Turin
During Sunday’s ‘Regina Coeli’ prayer Pope Benedict also recalled the famous Shroud of Turin, Italy, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus. The 4.3-meter-long, 1 meter-wide cloth is on exhibition from April 10 to May 23. Pope Benedict is scheduled for a trip to Turin to venerate the shroud on May 2. "I rejoice for this event, which once again is encouraging a large movement of pilgrims as well as studies, reflections and above all an extraordinary recollection of the mystery of Christ's suffering," he said. "I hope that this act of veneration will help all to seek the Face of God, which was the intimate aspiration of the Apostles and is [also] our own," he added.