(April 21, 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 April 21st was held in the open in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
It began with aides taking turns reading a scripture passage in various languages.
One of the aides greeted the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims, and
presented the various groups to him. The aide also conveyed the good wishes of the
people for the 5th anniversary of Pope Benedict's election, which was marked
on Monday, April 19. Listen:
Pope Benedict then delivered a discourse in English, reviewing his visit to
Malta last Saturday and Sunday. Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sisters, This past weekend I had the joy of visiting Malta
for the nineteen hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Saint Paul’s shipwreck and his
three-month sojourn there. I am deeply grateful to the civil and church authorities,
and to all who received me so warmly. At the Grotto of Saint Paul I thanked God for
the abundant fruits of faith, holiness and missionary zeal which the preaching of
the Apostle has brought forth on those islands. The Christian vision, so deeply rooted
in Maltese life and culture, continues to provide inspiration for meeting the great
social and moral challenges of the present time. The vitality of the faith in Malta
was evident in the joyful celebration of Mass before the Church of Saint Publius.
As a natural crossroads, Malta has never been isolated or self-enclosed, nor has the
Maltese cross, which I saw waving everywhere, ever lost its authentic meaning as a
sign of love and reconciliation. The challenge of passing on the perennial wisdom
and truth of the Gospel belongs in a particular way to the younger generation. At
the port of Valletta, I challenged Malta’s young people to look to Saint Paul’s spiritual
journey as a model for their own, to let their lives be changed by an encounter with
the Risen Christ, and to trust that God’s loving plan is more powerful than any storm
or shipwreck along the way. I welcome the newly-ordained deacons from the
Pontifical Scots College, together with their family members and friends. Upon all
the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from Finland,
Norway, Sweden, Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States, I invoke
the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. After greeting other groups
in their languages, Pope Benedict concluded Wednesday’s General Audience with his
blessing.