Bamberg Cathedral celebrates its millennium of consecration
May 12, 2012: ‘The Cathedral of Bamberg in Germany, is an extraordinary testimony
of the power and beauty of faith’, said Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter to Archbishop
Ludwig Schick of the archdiocese of Bamberg on the occasion of the millennium celebration
of its consecration.
The celebration can render itself as the prelude of the
Year of Faith that I have proclaimed to the whole Church. It can encourage all of
you, priests and faithful, to rediscover and deepen the faith of your beautiful cathedral,
the Pontiff said.
The Pope invited them to take a mental "visit" to this house
of God, to hear the message that announces itself to them without using words. What
distinguishes the cathedral from all other churches is the bishop's throne, situated
in a prominent position. The chair is a throne, but also a pulpit for teaching. The
bishop, as a teacher of Catholic truth, is the guarantor of the unity of the diocese,
its priests and faithful, and this only in tune with the community of faithfuls in
the universal Church, the Pope explained.
Altar is at the center of the Cathedral.
The altar, which is the sacred place where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered, where
the passion, death and resurrection are made present anew each day. The Eucharist
is the "source and summit of life Christian". Altar is also the place where priests
are ordained, and the holy oils - the Chrism, the catechumens and the sick – with
which the holy sacraments are administered throughout the archdiocese. Really this
altar is the heart of the entire archdiocese.
The Church of Jesus Christ is
not merely an interest group, a joint venture, but a human society, and one who is
called to service in the Church is not an official of the community, but is commissioned
and sent by Jesus Christ.
Pope also highlighted the extraordinary tomb of
saints Henry and Cunegonde. The Pontiff wished that the two royal saints may help
the people to recognize what it means to live as Christians in the world. From the
tomb of the imperial couple, a call comes for all to listen to the Word of the Gospel
in the family, profession, society, economy and culture and to shape reality according
to the earthly his spirit, Pope Benedict said.
Cathedral of Bamberg also houses
the tomb of Pope Clement II, who even after his election as the Successor of Peter
wanted to remain bishop of Bamberg, thus giving a significant test of unity with Rome
and Bamberg. In close communion with the Successor of Peter and the Universal Church,
we will find, even in the current crisis of faith, a certainty of faith and an unshakable
confidence, the Pontiff added.