Pope’s general audience of Oct. 17. Encourages poverty eradication

October 17, 2012 - Pope’s general audience of Oct. 17. Encourages poverty eradication
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 and receive his blessing. With the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization continuing in the Vatican, Pope Benedict took time off to hold his audience on October 17th in St. Peter’s Square. It began with a reading in several languages of a passage from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. After an aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English speaking pilgrims, the Holy Father spoke in English.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s Audience introduces a new series of catecheses meant to accompany the Church’s celebration of the Year of Faith, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The Year of Faith invites us to renewed enthusiasm for the gift of our belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, and shows us the ultimate meaning of our human existence. Faith transforms our lives, enabling us to know and love the God who created us, to live freely in accordance with his will, and to cooperate in building a truly humane and fraternal society. Our catecheses will thus deal with the central truths of the faith as expressed in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. May the Year of Faith lead all believers to a fuller knowledge of the mystery of Christ and a deeper participation in the life of his Body, the Church!
I offer a warm welcome to the Muslim and Catholic study group from the Diocese of Broken Bay in Australia. I also greet the representatives of the Jewish Federation of North America and the participants in the European Conference of the American Bankruptcy Institute. I thank the Cathedral Choir from Oslo and the Hawaiian dancers for their performances. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present, including those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Jersey, Norway, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Canada and the United States, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.

At the end the general audience, Pope Benedict recalled the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which the United Nations marks on Oct. 17. Greeting the Italian branch of the international movement, “All Together for Dignity Fourth World” (ADT), Pope Benedict encouraged its members in their commitment to protect the dignity and rights of those condemned to bear the scourge of poverty, against which he said humanity must fight tirelessly.
Pope Benedict concluded Wednesday’s general audience with his blessing.
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