Pope pays homage to Immaculate Conception

December 10, 2012 - Despite a cold snap hitting Italy, Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday afternoon observed the annual Dec. 8th tradition of paying homage to the statue of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Rome. Dec 8 feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holiday both in Italy and Rome, but shops remain open for Christmas shoppers and streets are bright with decorations and lights. Standing at the foot of a tall column on which stands a statue to the Madonna in the Spanish Square, the Pope urged the faithful and tourists to ask the Immaculate Virgin during Advent to teach them to listen in silence to the voice of God, and receive his Grace which frees us from sin and every selfishness so that we can taste true joy.” He stressed the importance of silence, grace and joy. The Pope noted that big things, like Mary's Annunciation, occur in silence and go unnoticed in the "frenzy that characterizes our cities." Through grace, Mary reminds us that the "power of God's love is stronger than evil, that it can fill the void that selfishness creates in the history of people," which "can become hell". The Pope said that, "Christianity" is a religion of joy, even if some believe it is an obstacle to joy because they see in it a set of prohibitions and rules. He explained that certain discipline on man’s mind, heart and behaviour, is to root out selfishness that harms oneself and others. We must therefore learn to say no to the voice of selfishness and yes to that of real love.