Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – In the Upper Room, historic site of Pentecost, the Holy Father Benedict XVI led the recitation of the Regina Caeli with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land. The encounter took place with the singing of the “Veni Creator Spiritus” and an address by the Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM. Then, before reciting the Regina Caeli, the Pope greeted those present with these words: “You represent the Catholic communities of the Holy Land who, in their faith and devotion, are like lighted candles illuminating the holy places that were graced by the presence of Jesus our living Lord. This unique privilege gives you and your people a special place of affection in my heart as the Successor of Peter.”
“We gather together, the Successor of Peter with successors of the apostles, in this same place where Jesus revealed in the offering of his own body and blood, the new depths of the covenant of love established between God and his people,” he said. “In the Eucharist we are drawn into the mystery of divine love. Our lives become a grateful, docile and active acceptance of the power of a love which is given to us. This transforming love, which is grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:17), prompts us, as individuals and communities, to overcome the temptation to turn in upon ourselves in selfishness or indolence, isolation, prejudice or fear, and to give ourselves generously to the Lord and to others.”
The Pontiff then observed that the various Christian churches present in this land “represent a rich and varied spiritual patrimony and are a sign of the multiple forms of interaction between the Gospel and different cultures. They also remind us that the mission of the Church is to preach the universal love of God and to gather, from far and near, all who are called by him, in such a way that, with their traditions and their talents, they form the one family of God.” The Pope also noted the new spiritual impulse towards communion in diversity and the new ecumenical awareness that has marked our times, especially since the Second Vatican Council.
Benedict XVI continued: “In the measure in which the gift of love is accepted and grows in the Church, the Christian presence in the Holy Land and in the neighboring regions will be vibrant. This presence is of vital importance for the good of society as a whole...Christians in the Middle East, together with other people of good will, are contributing, as loyal and responsible citizens, in spite of difficulties and restrictions, to the promotion and consolidation of a climate of peace in diversity.” The Holy Father then assured them of his “personal closeness in this situation of human insecurity, daily suffering, fear and hope which you are living,” as he had said in his 2006 Christmas Message to Catholics living in the Middle East Region.
In concluding, the Pope said: “Dear Brother Bishops, count on my support and encouragement as you do all that is in your power to assist our Christian brothers and sisters to remain and prosper here in the land of their ancestors and to be messengers and promoters of peace...For my part, I renew my appeal to our brothers and sisters worldwide to support and to remember in their prayers the Christian communities of the Holy Land and the Middle East. In this context I wish to express my appreciation for the service offered to the many pilgrims and visitors who come to the Holy Land seeking inspiration and renewal in the footsteps of Jesus...For this service, I wish to assure you of the appreciation and gratitude of the Universal Church and I express the wish that many more pilgrims will visit in the future.”
Following his visit to the Upper Room, the Holy Father traveled to the Co-Cathedral of the Latins dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, in which nearly 300 people were gathered, including several contemplative sisters. In his brief address, the Pope recalled that “in this city, Peter first preached the Good News of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost,” and “From Jerusalem, the Gospel has gone out “to all the earth … to the ends of the world” (Ps 19:4), yet all the time, the Church’s missionary effort has been sustained by the prayers of the faithful, gathered around the altar of the Lord, invoking the mighty power of the Holy Spirit upon the work of preaching.” Thus, the Pope expressed his particular appreciation “for the hidden apostolate of the contemplatives,” thanking them for their generous dedication to a life of prayer and abnegation, and invited them to “commend to the Lord” his “service to God’s people all over the world” and to “pray without ceasing for an end to the conflict that has brought so much suffering to the peoples of this land.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2009)
