EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - “The Pope’s visit will certainly give fresh impulse to new evangelisation in Switzerland” Bishop Kurt Koch of Basle told Fides.

Tuesday, 8 June 2004

Rome (Fides Service) - “The Pope’s visit will certainly give fresh impulse to new evangelisation in Switzerland” Bishop Kurt Koch of Basle told Fides. Switzerland and the whole of Europe need more than ever re-evangelisation. Pope John Paul II’s visit to Switzerland is another of his contributions to help rediscover the Christian roots of a continent which is almost completely secularised.
«The whole country, the young people in particular, saw how the Pope lives the faith he professes» Bishop Koch told Fides. «The young people responded with enthusiasm to the Holy Father particularly when he affirmed with conviction that the faith is not an ideology . The fact that the faith is a truth to be lived in every day life and events, is precisely what the young people of Switzerland needed to hear. It is only by starting from a faith lived personally that our country can live and welcome new evangelisation».
More than 70,000 people turned out for the open air Mass on Sunday 6 June, a number which surprised even the most optimistic of the organisers and gave the Church in Switzerland ulterior encouragement to continue on the path traced by the Holy Father.
«The Church in Switzerland is grateful to the Pope for his visit. The celebration of the Mass was very touching and the sight of so many people who had come to pray with the Pope gave us new courage in our commitment to mission of witness to all people».
«The Reformed Churches in our country did not take part in the events. However a most significant gesture was made by members of the ‘Altkatholiken’ Old Catholic community in Switzerland. They sent a copy of their new Mass Book of Prayers and Hymns asking for it to be put on the Pope’s bedside table at the residence where he stayed overnight as a mark of their respect and esteem».
«I was deeply touched by the Pope’s vitality» Bishop Koch concluded. «In spite of his age and physical debility his mind is clear and lucid. When the youngsters called he responded promptly and affectionately. He was determined to speak to them himself and in fact as we all saw, when, to save the Pope’s energy one of his assistants made a move to give his address to someone else to read, the Pope refused and brushed away the hand as if to say “I am the Pope!”». (M.S./P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2004 - Righe 29; Parole 329)


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