Pope's general audience of Nov. 24

(November 24, 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 in several languages. The general audience of November 24 was held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. A scripture passage was read in several languages. An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims, and presented the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then delivered a discourse in English.

Listen:
Dear Brothers and Sisters, our catechesis today deals with Saint Catherine of Siena, a Dominican tertiary, a woman of great holiness and a Doctor of the Church. Catherine’s spiritual teachings are centred on our union with Christ, the bridge between earth and heaven. Her own virginal entrustment to Christ the Bridegroom was reflected in her celebrated visions. Catherine’s life also shows us the importance of the spiritual maternity exercised by so many women in every age. From this great saint let us learn to grow in holiness, love for the Lord and fidelity to his body, the Church.
I extend a warm welcome to the Catholic and Greek Orthodox pilgrims from San Francisco, California. I also greet the Superiors of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood meeting in Rome. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially the pilgrim groups from Japan and the United States of America, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.

At the end of the audience the Pope Benedict XVI called the attention of young people and urged them to follow the example of Vietnamese martyrs, St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his 116 companions whose feast occurs on Nov. 24 in the Church’s liturgical calendar. “I invite you young people, to be intrepid in witnessing to Christian values, in constant fidelity to the Lord,” the Pope said in Italian. St. Andrew was among 117 who were killed for their faith in Vietnam between 1820 and 1862.
Wednesday’s general audience ended with the Pope’s blessing.
Listen: