Pope's general audience of Oct. 10, also in Arabic

(October 10, 2012) Every week on Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called the general audience, where pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance of seeing and hearing him speak in several languages and receiving his blessing. With the Synod of Bishops on new evangelization continuing in the Vatican, Pope Benedict took time off to hold his audience in St. Peter’s Square, October 10^th. It began with a reading from the Acts of the Apostles in several languages, including for the first time in Arabic. An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English speaking pilgrims, introducing the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then spoke in English.

Listen :
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today marks the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. I remember well the enthusiasm, the hope and the joy, not only of the bishops, but of the whole Church during that period. As we begin tomorrow the Year of Faith, it is more necessary than ever to return to the documents of this great Council, which was convoked, in the words of Blessed John the twenty-third, to proclaim the truths of the faith in a “renewed” way, all the while keeping intact their perennial content. Our own era, which has forgotten God, needs to be reminded of the profound message of the Council, that Christianity consists of faith in the triune God and in a personal and communal encounter with Christ who orients and gives meaning to life. Everything else flows from this. As in the time of the Council, may we in our time recognize with clarity that God is present, he is watching over us, he responds to us, and that when man forgets God, he forgets what is essential to his own human dignity. The fiftieth anniversary of the Council thus reminds us that the Church, in all its members, has the task of transmitting the message of God’s love which saves and which leads us to eternal beatitude.
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims, visitors and groups present today, including those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Ghana, Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and the United States. Upon all of you, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!

Pope Benedict also greeted other groups in their languages, including, for the first time, in Arabic, a language that will henceforth be part of Wednesday’s general audience.

Listen to Pope's greeting in Arabic: الْبَابَا يَصْلِي مِنْ أَجَلْ جَمِيعَ النَّاطِقَيْنِ بِاللُّغَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ... لِيُبَارِكُكَ الرَّبّ جَمِيعَكُمْ
The Pope said he prays for all Arabic-speaking people, adding, “God bless you all!” The Holy Father’s inclusion of Arabic is to express his and the world’s support for Christians in the Middle East and to work and pray for peace in the region. Earlier during Wednesday’s general audience, an Arabic speaker read a scripture passage, greeted the Holy Father on behalf of Arabic-speaking pilgrims and visitors and delivered a brief summary of the Pope’s catechesis.