(October 05, 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 Oct.
5 was held in the open in St. Peter’s Square. It began on the reading of a part of
Psalm 23 in several languages. An aide addressed the Pope on behalf of the English
speaking pilgrims introducing the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then delivered
a discourse in English:
Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sisters, Continuing our catechesis on Christian prayer, we
now turn to Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”. With its exquisite
pastoral imagery this much-beloved Psalm speaks of the radical trust in God’s loving
care which is an essential aspect of prayer. The Psalmist begins by presenting God
as a good shepherd who guides him to green pastures, standing at his side and protecting
him from every danger. “He leads me beside still waters; he refreshes my soul” (vv.
2-3). The scene then passes to the shepherd’s tent, where the Lord welcomes him as
a guest, gracing him with the gifts of food, oil and wine. “You prepare a table before
me … you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (v. 5). God’s protection continues
to accompany the Psalmist with goodness and mercy along his way, a way which leads
to length of days in the Lord’s Temple (v. 6). The powerful image of God as the Shepherd
of Israel accompanied the whole religious history of the Chosen People, from the Exodus
to the return to the Promised Land. It finds its ultimate expression and fulfilment
in the coming of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for his sheep, preparing
for us the table of his Body and Blood as a foretaste of the definitive messianic
banquet which awaits us in heaven. I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims
and visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from England, Scotland,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Nigeria, Singapore, the Philippines and the United States.
My special greeting goes to the alumni and friends celebrating the fiftieth anniversary
of the Pontifical Filipino College. I also greet the new students from the Pontifical
Beda College, and I offer prayerful good wishes to the deacon class of the Pontifical
North American College and their families. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings
of joy and peace.
In a special way, I would like to greet the Delegation
of the Theology Faculty of the University of Thessaloniki, who have wished to confer
upon me the Apostle Jason of Thessaloniki Gold Medal. I am deeply honoured by this
gracious gesture, which is an eloquent sign of the growing understanding and dialogue
between Catholic and Orthodox Christians. I pray that it will be a harbinger of ever
greater progress in our efforts to respond in fidelity, truth and charity to the Lord’s
summons to unity. I thank the Delegation most cordially, and I offer my prayerful
good wishes for their teaching and research. God bless you all!