VATICAN - “Jesus emphasizes his predilection for sinners who convert, and he teaches us that humility is essential for welcoming the gift of salvation,” says Benedict XVI in his Angelus address, remembering Pope John Paul I and encouraging all to “cultivate this same humility he had.”

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) – In his last Angelus address at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, on September 28, before returning to the Vatican, the Holy Father Benedict XVI reflected on humility, meditating on the readings from the Sunday liturgy: the Gospel passage of the two sons sent by their father to work in the vineyard and the passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The Pope said: “With this parable Jesus emphasizes his predilection for sinners who convert, and he teaches us that humility is essential for welcoming the gift of salvation. St. Paul, too, in the passage from the Letter to the Philippians that we meditate on today, calls for humility... These are Christ’s own sentiments, he who laid aside divine glory for love of us, became man and lowered himself even to dying on the cross.”
“Reflecting on these biblical texts, I immediately thought of Pope John Paul I, the 30th anniversary of whose death is today. He chose Charles Borromeo’s motto as his own episcopal motto: ‘Humilitas’: a single word that synthesizes what is essential in Christian life and indicates the indispensable virtue of those who are called to the service of authority in the Church... Because of this virtue of his, 33 days were enough for Pope Luciani to enter into the hearts of the people.” The Holy Father then recalled how Pope Luciani had, in his addresses, used examples taken from concrete life, from his memories of family life and from popular wisdom. His simplicity was a vehicle of a solid and rich teaching that, thanks to the gift of an exceptional memory and great culture, he adorned with numerous references to ecclesiastical and secular writers. He was thus an incomparable catechist... As we thank God for having given him to the Church and to the world, let us treasure his example, exerting ourselves to cultivate his humility, which made him capable of talking to everyone, especially the little and so-called distant.”
After reciting the Angelus, the Pope greeted and thanked the community of Castel Gandolfo, announcing his return to the Vatican, and recalling his various apostolic journeys of the summer. Addressing the various groups present, the Pope expressed his particular gratitude to the volunteers from the Focolare Movement who had come from several different countries, and he encouraged them to “always bear witness to the transforming power of the Gospel.” The Holy Father also expressed his “best wishes” to the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, in their campaign to prevent the poverty of illiteracy. The Pope concluded his address with these words: “I wish everyone a good month of October, month of the Holy Rosary, during which, if it pleases God, I will go on pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady at Pompei on Sunday, Oct. 19.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2008)