(February 09, 2011) 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 Feb.
9 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, Today’s catechesis is on the life of Saint Peter
Canisius. He was born in the Low Countries, and as a young man became one of the
early followers of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Three years after his priestly ordination
in Cologne, he laboured intensively for the religious and moral reform of the people
as well as for the improvement of academic life in the University of Ingolstadt.
He founded the College of Prague, and was named the first Superior of the Jesuit province
in Southern Germany. From there he oversaw the Society’s communities and colleges
which quickly became major centres of Catholic reform. During this period, in the
tumult of the Reformation, he took part in many civic and theological disputes. He
published devotional literature as well as catechisms popular for their Biblically-inspired
responses. Even in his later years in Fribourg, Switzerland, he remained extremely
active, dedicating himself to writing and preaching. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed Peter
Canisius the ‘Second Apostle of Germany’, and he was canonized and named a Doctor
of the Church by Pope Pius XI. His significant contribution to catechesis is second
only to the example for us of his disciplined Christ-centred spirituality, finding
in the liturgy, daily prayer and devotion to the heart of Jesus the strength and inspiration
to carry out well his innumerable tasks. I extend a warm welcome to all
the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from Japan and Malaysia,
students from Loyola University and the University of Saint Thomas, as well as students
from the Highlands Institute and the Irish Institute in Rome. Upon all of you, I
invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace! Pope Benedict also spoke to other
groups in their languages and concluded Wednesday’s general audience with the Pope’s
blessing. Listen: