Pope Benedict XVI held his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, during which he concluded
his series of catechesis of Jesus’ own prayer. The particular focus of Pope Benedict’s
remarks was the importance of silence in our relationship with God.
In Christ’s
own life and prayer, and especially in his experience of the Cross, we see a constant
interplay of word and silence. Jesus’ mortal silence on the Cross is his final word
to the Father, his supreme prayer. To hear God’s word requires the cultivation of
outward and inward silence, so that his voice can resound within our hearts and shape
our lives.
Pope Benedict went on to say that Jesus teaches us that God also
speaks to us, especially at times of difficulty, through his silence, which invites
us to deeper faith and trust in his promises.
Jesus is our great teacher of
prayer; from his prayer we learn to speak with confidence to our heavenly Father as
his beloved sons and daughters.
“In this filial dialogue,” said Pope Benedict,
“we are also taught to recognize God’s many gifts and to obey his will, which gives
meaning and direction to our lives.”
Following the catechesis, the Pope had
greetings for pilgrims in many languages, including English, during which welcomed
several student groups from the United States:
I welcome the many student groups
present at today’s Audience, including those from the United States Coast Guard Academy,
the Catholic University of America, Saint Mary’s Seminary and the Franciscan University
of Steubenville.
Aldo during the course of the audience, the Holy Father
had special greetings for the Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics, His
Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, and for all the Armenian Catholic bishops come
to Rome from various continents for their particular Church’s Synod assembly.
Pope
Benedict expressed heartfelt gratitude to the bishops for their loyalty to the heritage
of their venerable Christian tradition and to the Successor of Peter. Offering his
Apostolic Blessing, he promised earnest prayers for the work of the Synod fathers,
in the hope that they will encourage greater communion and understanding among pastors,
and give renewed impetus to Armenian Catholics on the paths of a generous and joyful
witness to Christ and the Church.
Pope Benedict concluded his greetings with
thoughts and prayers for the regions of the Middle East, encouraging pastors and faithful
there to persevere with hope in the great suffering that afflict them.
Following
the audience, Pope Benedict received the German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schauble
in a private parlor within the Paul VI Hall. Listen