June 20, 2012: Every Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called the General
Audience, during which pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance to see
the Pope and hear him speak. During the General Audience the Holy Father delivers
a spiritual reflection and greets various groups in their languages.
The General
Audience of Wednesday, June 20 was held at Paul 6th auditorium in the Vatican.
The Holy Father arrived at 10.40 am and read the meditation and gave his apostolic
blessing. He welcomed various groups in their own languages. Large number of people
was present at the auditorium coming from different sections of the Society and Religious
Orders. Particularly present in the audience were pilgrims from Scotland, Australia,
Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United States. Pope Benedict while
greeting them all reflected on the great prayer of praise and blessing found in St.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He invited all to open their hearts and lives ever
more fully to the transforming presence of the Blessed Trinity.
Pope Benedict
also expressed his deep concern at the violence going on in Nigeria, where the terrorists
continue their attacks directed mainly against the Christians. While praying for the
victims and for those who suffer, the Pontiff called upon the perpetrators of violence,
to immediately stop the bloodshed of innocent people. He urged all citizens of that
country to cooperate in building a peaceful society, where the right to profess each
one’s faith is fully protected.
An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English
speaking pilgrims and introduced the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then welcome
them and delivered a reflection in English.
I offer a warm welcome to the Forum
of Interreligious Harmony from Indonesia. My greeting also goes to the participants
in the Vatican Observatory Summer School. I likewise greet the “Wounded Warriors”
group from the United States. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s
Audience, including those from Scotland, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, the
Philippines and the United States, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!
Pope's
discourse in English
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As part of our continuing
reflection on prayer in the letters of Saint Paul, we now turn to the great prayer
of praise and blessing found at the beginning of the Letter to the Ephesians. Paul
blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for making known to us “the mystery
of his will” (Eph 1:9), his eternal plan for our salvation. Before the creation
of the world, God “chose us in Christ” (1:4) to be his adopted children and to receive
a glorious inheritance. Through the blood of Christ’s cross, he showed the depth
of his merciful love, forgave our sins and reconciled us to himself. By the gift
of the Holy Spirit, he gave us the seal and pledge of our definitive redemption in
the fullness of time. Paul’s prayer invites us to contemplate the unfolding of God’s
saving plan in history and to discern the signs of its presence in our own lives and
in the life of the Church. In our own prayer, may we praise the mystery of our election
in Christ, and open our hearts and lives ever more fully to the transforming presence
of the Blessed Trinity.