VATICAN - Benedict XVI tells the Parish of the Holy Face of Jesus: “Let yourselves be illuminated by the splendor of Christ's Face, and your young community will continue forward in unity, united in the task of proclaiming and testifying to the Gospel in this neighborhood.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for coming out to meet with me on this beautiful Sunday. Unfortunately it is raining, but the sun is on its way. Perhaps it is symbolic of this time before Easter, in which we feel the suffering of the Lord and all the problems of our world today, each one in his own way. But, we know that the sun, though it may be hidden, exists; that God is near, that He helps us and accompanies us.” These were the words with which the Holy Father Benedict XVI greeted the faithful gathered in front of the Parish of the Holy Face of Jesus in Magliana, in the western sector of Rome's Diocese, where he made a pastoral visit on Sunday, March 29.
In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the Gospel passage read on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, in which a group of Greeks tell Philip, “We want to see Jesus.” “In the request made by these anonymous Greeks,” Benedict XVI explained, “we see the thirst that exists in the heart of every man to see and know Christ; and Jesus' response leads us towards the Paschal Mystery, the glorious manifestation of His saving mission...Yes! The hour is coming for the glorification of the Son of Man, but this brings with it the painful path through the passion and death on the Cross. Only in this manner, in fact, will the divine plan of salvation, which is for all – Jews and Pagans – come to pass.”
The Pope highlighted the opportunity of meditating on this text from the Gospel of John as the days of the Passion of the Lord draw near: “It is as though the Church is encouraging us to share in Jesus' state of mind, wishing to prepare us to relive the mystery of His crucifixion, death, and resurrection, not as mere spectators, but as protagonists with Him, participators in the mystery of His Cross and Resurrection.”
In speaking of His glorious death, the Lord uses the image of the grain of wheat that falls in the earth and that only bears fruit if it dies. The Pope commented: “It was not enough for the Son of God to become incarnate. In order to fulfill the divine plan of universal salvation, He had to be put to death and buried: only in this manner would all humanity be included and, through His death and resurrection, the triumph of Life and Love would be manifest. It would show that love is stronger than death.” Jesus “told of the weight of the trial and the bitter sadness for the tragic end that awaited him...At the same time, however, his filial adhesion to the divine plan was no less, as he knew that for this reason His hour had come...He transforms his human will and identifies it with that of God. This is the great event that takes place on the Mount of Olives, the same trajectory that should take place in all our prayers: transform, allow grace to transform, our selfish will and open it to full communion with the divine will.”
The Pope continued his reflection, recalling that Jesus points out the way of the Cross to all His disciples: “there is no other alternative for the Christian who wishes to fulfill his vocation...there is no other path for experiencing the joy and true fruitfulness of love: the path is that of giving of oneself, consecrating oneself, losing oneself to find oneself.” Later, greeting the faithful of the Parish dedicated to the Holy Face of Jesus, the Pope told them: “Let yourselves be illuminated by the splendor of Christ's Face, and your young community will continue forward in unity, united in the task of proclaiming and testifying to the Gospel in this neighborhood.” He then invited the youth: “Allow yourselves to be attracted by Jesus. Looking at His Face with the eyes of faith, ask Him: Jesus, what do You want me to do with You and for You? Listen to Him and, guided by His Spirit, accept the plans He has for each one of you.” The Holy Father concluded his homily by inviting everyone to pray “that all those we meet may always perceive, in our words and actions, the pacifying and consoling goodness of His Face.”
After the Mass, Benedict XVI met with the children preparing to make their First Communion. He told them: “Today we heard in the Gospel that people from Greece said: We want to see Jesus. We all want to see and know Jesus, who is present among us. Now you are on this path of preparation and after you receive your First Communion, He will be at your side, you will be able to perceive Him with you. At Easter, with the beauty of the feast, we will more easily perceive the joy that the presence of the Risen Christ brings to our hearts.”
In addressing the Pastoral Council, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for all they do for building up the living Church in that area of Rome and commented: “I think that one of the gifts of the II Vatican Council is the existence of these Pastoral Councils, where lay representatives of each community meet with their parish pastor and priests, to confront the problems of the local Church, helping to edify the Church, make the Word of God present and spread awareness of the presence of Christ in the Sacraments. At this time when secularism is so strong and all the impressions that surround us seem to oppose the presence of God in some way, oppose this capacity to perceive His presence, it is even more important not to leave a priest on his own, but to surround him with believers who, with him, bear the seed of the Word and help it to grow in our day.”
Highlighting the importance of “consoling, helping, and assisting people in their suffering,” the Holy Father recalled his recent visit to Yaounde, Cameroon, to the Center started by Cardinal Leger, a Canadian, who “following the Council, in 1968, felt the need to not only preach and govern but to be a simple priest in order to help those who suffer.” He then exhorted those present to “always be sensitive towards those who suffer, those in pain, the poor, those people who suffer from every form of poverty, spiritual poverty as well, in whom the Lord awaits us.” “According to tradition, counsel is a gift of the Holy Spirit and a parish priest, even more so a Pope, needs counsel. He needs to be assisted in making decisions. Therefore, the Pastoral Councils also carry out the work of the Holy Spirit and bear witness to His presence in the Church.”
In his final greeting to the faithful before returning to the Vatican, the Pope recalled Africa once more: “Dear friends, I would like to thank you for your enthusiasm. It reminds me of Africa, where I also saw many people who were filled with joy to be Catholic, to form part of the great family of God. Thank you, because I see this joy in you as well.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2009)