(January 04, 2012) 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 Jan.
4, the first of this year, was held indoors in the Paul VI audience hall in the Vatican.
It began with several aides reading a passage from the Gospel of Luke on the birth
of Jesus, in several languages. One of the aides greeted the Pope on behalf of the
English speaking pilgrims and introduced the various groups to him. Pope Benedict
then delivered a discourse in English.
Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sister, In this Christmas season, the Church celebrates the
mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God and his revelation as the Saviour of
the world. From the witness of Scripture and the Church’s tradition, we see that
our first reaction to the birth of Jesus should be one of joy, in the knowledge that
God has assumed our humanity in order to make us sharers in his own divine life.
The contemplation of this “wondrous exchange”, which we experience most powerfully
in the Eucharist, invites us to recognize our lofty dignity as God’s adopted sons
and daughters. The liturgy teaches us that Christmas is a feast of light, for Christ,
the light of the world and the radiance of the Father’s glory, has brought us from
darkness into his Kingdom of light and called us to bring the light of the Gospel
to every creature. During this Christmas season, may we welcome the Newborn Saviour
into our hearts and may our lives be transformed by his gifts of joy, newness and
light. I am pleased to greet all the English-speaking visitors present,
including the pilgrimage groups from Wales, Australia and the United States. I offer
a special greeting to the priests and seminarians of the Pontifical College Josephinum.
My welcome also goes to the La Salette Brothers taking part in a programme of spiritual
renewal. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all of you and
your families I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy, peace and prosperity for the year
which has just begun. Happy New Year!