Departure ceremony, Barcelona airport, Address of the Holy Father
Your Majesties, Your Eminences the Archbishop of Barcelona and the Cardinal President
of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Your Eminences and Your Excellencies, Dear
Prime Minister, Distinguished National Regional and Local authorities, Dear
Brother and Sisters, Dear Friends,
Thank you very much. I wish to convey
in these brief words my deep sentiments of gratitude at the conclusion of my visit
to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona. I thank Your Majesties for coming here today.
I am grateful to Your Majesty for your gracious words in which you expressed the affection
of this noble people to the Successor of Peter. I also wish to express my heartfelt
gratitude to the authorities present, to the Archbishops of Santiago de Compostela
and Barcelona, to the Spanish Bishops and to all those who, without counting the cost,
have helped to bring this journey to a happy conclusion. I am grateful for the many
constant and touching gestures of attention offered in these days to the Pope, clear
signs of the openness and hospitality characteristic of the people of these lands
so dear to my heart. At Compostela, as a pilgrim, I joined the many people from
Spain and Europe and elsewhere who come to the tomb of the apostle to fortify their
faith and to receive forgiveness and peace. As Peter’s Successor I also came to strengthen
my brothers and sisters in the faith that at the very dawn of Christianity came to
these lands and took such deep root that it has constantly shaped the spirit, customs,
art and character of its peoples. The preservation of this rich spiritual patrimony
demonstrates the love of your country for its history and culture, yet it is also
a privileged way of transmitting to younger generations those fundamental values so
necessary for building up a common future of harmony and solidarity. The paths
that cross Europe on the way to Santiago differed greatly, each marked by its own
language and its particular characteristics, but the faith was the same. There was
a common language, the Gospel of Christ. In any place pilgrims could feel at home.
Beyond national differences, they knew that they were members of one great family
to which the other pilgrims and people along the way also belonged. May this faith
find new vigour on this continent and become a source of inspiration. May it give
rise to an attitude of solidarity towards all, especially towards those communities
and nations in greater need. [in Catalan:] Here in Barcelona, I have had
the immense joy of consecrating the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, which Gaudí conceived
as a monument of praise in stone to God. I also visited an important charitable institution
of the Church. They stand in today’s Barcelona as two symbols of the fruitfulness
of that faith which has marked this people deeply and which, through charity and the
mystery of God’s beauty, contributes to the creation of a society more worthy of man.
Truly, beauty, holiness and the love of God enable people to live with hope in this
world. I return to Rome after visiting only two places in this beautiful country.
Nevertheless, in my thoughts and prayers, I have wished to embrace all Spaniards without
exception and all those born elsewhere but now living here. I hold all of you in
my heart and I pray for you, especially for those who suffer. I place you under the
maternal protection of Mary Most Holy, so greatly venerated and invoked in Galicia,
Catalonia and throughout Spain. I ask her to obtain for you from Almighty God abundant
heavenly gifts, that you may live as one family, guided by the light of faith. I
bless you in the name of the Lord. With his help, we will meet again next year in
Madrid, to celebrate World Youth Day. Adios!