"Promote the Christian meaning of life" says Pope in Aquileia
Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday began his two-day apostolic visit to Aquileia and Venice
in north-eastern Italy. After touching down in the late afternoon at the Friuli-Venezia
Giulia airport, the Holy Father journeyed to Aquileia’s Piazza Capitolo – or Chapter
Square – where he greeted civil authorities and local citizens. Pope Benedict then
moved on to visit the basilica where he attended a preparatory assembly for the 2nd
Ecclesial Assembly of Aquileia, which is due to be held at Pentecost in 2012.
Chris
Altieri is in north-eastern Italy with the Pope, and told us more about Saturday’s
events: -- It really was remarkable to see the Holy Father make his way from
the airport in Gorizia, more than 11 miles away from Aquileia, in the Pope-mobile.
He was greeted along the route by the faithful, to whose spirit I really would not
do justice by calling them “enthusiastic”.
Pope Benedict wasted no time in
establishing the themes and the tone of the visit, right from the get-go. In Aquileia,
the Holy Father’s first public remarks were at the Piazza del Capitolo outside the
Basilica of Aquileia. Often these greetings are really just an exchange of official
pleasantries, but this time, Pope Benedict praised the Church of Aquileia in a prose
that waxed rhapsodic.
He recalled the ancient roots of the Church, the Aquileian
Church’s pivotal role in the evangelization of central Europe and also – this is poignant
– in the defence of the true faith against the Arian heresy – a false teaching in
the early centuries of the Church, which denied the full divinity of Christ. In this
connection, Pope Benedict mentioned the great bishop Cromatius of Aquileia, by name.
He was, said Pope Benedict, diligent and attentive as St Augustine of Hippo or St
Ambrose of Milan – and St Jerome, a figure not known to praise often or lightly, called
him “Holy and learned among the bishops.” So, Pope Benedict celebrated the way in
which he worked to serve the Church: a perfect synthesis of learning and loving care
for his flock.
But the Holy Father didn’t stop with the praise of Aquileia’s
past glories: he also encouraged the faithful of Aquileia and all her daughter Churches
in equally thrilling language:
“Dear brothers and sisters,” he said, children
and heirs of the glorious Church of Aquileia, I am now among you to admire this rich
and ancient tradition, but above all, I am here to confirm you in the deep faith of
your fathers: in this hour of history,” he said, “rediscover, defend, and professes
with warmth of spirit this fundamental truth.”
These were themes the Holy
Father developed in his remarks to the organizers of the 2nd Ecclesial
Assembly of Aquileia, shortly after the greeting in the square. He showed the organizers
of the event – which is to take place in just under a year, so the Pope’s remarks
really are offering guidance – that he has a firm grasp on the challenges to the faith.
In many respects, the Church in Aquileia is facing the same challenges the Church
is facing almost everywhere: the often exasperated search for economic well-being
in a period of severe economic and financial crisis, practical materialism, and a
dominant trend of subjectivism. The Pope said, “In the complexity of these situations,
you are called to promote the Christian meaning of life through the explicit proclamation
of the Gospel, carried with gentle pride and great joy in the various areas of daily
life. From faith lived with courage springs, today as in the past, a rich culture
built upon the love of life, from conception until its natural end, the promotion
of human dignity, high regard for the family based on faithful marriage open to life,
commitment to justice and solidarity…” and he concluded with a reference to the 1st
letter of Peter: “The cultural changes taking place,” he said, are calling you to
be committed Christians, "ready to answer whoever asks you the reason for the hope
that is in you (1 Peter 3:15).” -- On Saturday evening, the Holy Father travelled
by helicopter to Venice, where he was scheduled to speak in the square outside of
St Mark’s Basilica. Afterwards, the Pope will enter the Basilica and venerate the
relics of St Mark.