The Pope appeals for a return to true peace in Egypt
Pope Benedict has expressed his sorrow at last Sunday’s violence which took place
in Egypt’s capital and called for a peaceful co-existence to be upheld between all
communities in the country.The Holy Father made the appeal on Wednesday during his
General Audience.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from as far away as Malaysia,
Indonesia, Australia and the United States took up their positions in an autumnal
St Peter’s Square for the Pope’s weekly General Audience
It was against the
unmistakable backdrop of St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday that the Holy Father spoke
of his deep sadness at the violence which engulfed the Egyptian capital, Cairo, last
Sunday.
26 people mostly Coptic Christians were killed when a peaceful protest
by Christians demonstrating over an earlier attack on a church in southern Egypt turned
violent.
The Pope said he was united in sorrow with the families of the victims
and with the Egyptian people, who he said, were being torn apart by attempts to undermine
the peaceful co-existence between communities in the country.
Pope Benedict
underlined the importance of preserving that co-existence, especially he said, at
this time of transition and he urged the faithful to pray , so that Egypt can enjoy
a true peace based on justice, respect for freedom and the dignity of every citizen.
The Holy Father also expressed his support for the efforts of the Egyptian
authorities, both civil and religious, to bring about a society which respects the
human rights of all its citizens and, in particular, minorities.
During the
Audience those waiting to hear the next installment of the Pope’s catechesis on Christian
prayer were not disappointed. This week Pope Benedict turned to Psalm 126.
“This Psalm is a joyful prayer of thanksgiving for God’s fidelity to his promises
in bringing about Israel’s return from the Babylonian Exile: “The Lord has done great
things for us, and we rejoiced” A similar spirit of joy and thanksgiving should mark
our own prayer as we recall the care which God has shown to us in the events of our
lives, even those which seem dark and bitter.”
The Holy Father went on to
explain that the Psalm demonstrates our faithful passage from darkness to light.
“The
Psalmist implores God to continue to grant Israel his saving help: “May those who
sow in tears, reap with shouts of joy” This imagery of the seed which silently grows
to maturity reminds us that God’s salvation is at once a gift already received and
the object of our hope, a promise whose fulfilment remains in the future. Jesus will
use this same imagery to express the passage from death to life, from darkness to
light, which must take place in the lives of all who put their faith in him and share
in his paschal mystery.”
Also making reference to Psalm 126 and speaking off
the cuff in Italian the Pope said it was important to remember the good things we
are given by God, because it is these gifts that can sustain us in dark times.
Before
giving greetings in English to visitors including members of the NATO Defence College,
the Pope and the whole of St Peter’s Square was treated to a performance by St Mary’s
Cathedral Choir who had come all the way from Sydney Australia. Listen