Pope Benedict XVI bids farewell to the Staff of Castel Gandolfo
(September 30, 2010) As Pope Benedict XVI is preparing to return to the Vatican on
Thursday after his summer stay at Castel Gandolfo, the Papal Summer Residence, he
bid farewell to the Staff there thanking them for the spirit of their service during
his stay there. The Pontiff expressed his special thanks to the Director, Dr. Saverio
Petrillo, for the skill and expertise that he as Director, together with all his staff,
dedicated to the care of the building and of the Pontifical Villas. He called on them
to continue in their daily witness to faith, especially through their docile listening
to the Word of God in the liturgy, particularly as they celebrated together on Wednesday
the feast of three great Messengers of the Word who enlighten, guide, protect, comfort,
support: the holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, sent by God, with specific
missions, in particular moments of salvation history. Every Christian said the Holy
Father is called to accept and live daily with joy and simplicity, the word of truth
that the Lord communicates to us. The Pope reminded them that on Thursday with the
celebration of the feast of St Jerome who placed the Bible at the centre of our lives,
we are called upon to live in constant personal dialogue with the Word of God, given
to us in Sacred Scripture, reading it not as the word of the past, but as a living
Word, which speaks to us daily and challenges us. He assured them of his constant
prayers that all may learn and understand deeply the Word of God, which is the encouragement
and source of Christian life to each person and every situation.