VATICAN - THE POPE SAYS AT THE ANGELUS: “LOOKING AT CHRIST ‘PANTOCRATOR’, AS THEEASTERN LITURGY SAYS, HIGHLIGHTS THE MISSION OF BELIEVERS CALLED IN A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES AND CHARISMA TO COOPERATE IN THE BUILDING UP OF HIS KINGDOM”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – As usual on Sunday 23 November Pope John Paul II came to his study window to pray the midday Angelus with people gathered in St Peter’s Square, who were several thousand. “Today, the last Sunday in the Liturgical year, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King of the universe – the Pope said by way of introduction to the Marian prayer -. During the months we have contemplated him in all his mysteries from his birth to his ascension into heaven, at the centre his Paschal mystery of death and resurrection. Now, with the Apostle Paul, we realise that God’s plan is to "recapitulate all things in Christ, those in heaven and those on earth".
The Pope said that contemplation of Christ the King Cristo, “highlights the mission of believers called, in a variety of ministries and charisma, to cooperate in the building up of his kingdom”. Mentioning a Congress of Sacred Music organised by the Santa Cecilia Association to mark the centenary of Pope Pius X’s Motu proprio "Tra le sollecitudini", the Pope greeted the participants voiced gratitude “to all those who put their musical talents and expertise at the service of the liturgy”. (S.L.) (Fides Service 24/11/2003 – lines 16; words 216)