VATICAN - The Pope’s teaching at the general Wednesday audience: “Christ is the principle of unity, the mediator, the final destination towards whom all creation converges. He is the Son par excellence in the great family of the children of God in which Baptism inserts us ”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (vespers Wednesday week 3; reading: cfr Col 1,3.12.15.17-18): this Canticle was the subject of the teaching given by Pope Benedict XVI at the weekly audience this morning, 7 September. The Holy Father flew by helicopter from his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo to address several thousands visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square.
“The heart of the hymn consists of verses 15-20 with the direct and solemn entrance of Christ referred to as the ‘image’ of the ‘invisible God’”, the Holy Father explained. More than once in his Letters St Paul uses the word “icon”, “applying it both to Christ, perfect icon of God, and to man, image and glory of God. However man with sin « exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of mortal man» (Rom 1,23), choosing to adore idols and becoming similar to them”. The Pope said: “We must continue to shape our image to that of the Son of God, because we have been «freed from the power of darkness», «transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son ».”
Christ is before all creation, generated from all eternity and for St Paul , “he is principle of unity («in him all things hold together»), mediator («through him»), and the final destination towards which all creation converges. He is «firstborn of many », that is, Son par excellence in the great family of God in which Baptism inserts us.”
The Canticle passes then to the world of history: “Christ is «the head of the Church» through his Incarnation. In fact he entered the human community, to sustain it and make it hold together in one «body», or in harmonious and fruitful unity. The consistence and growth of humanity are rooted in Christ, the vital hub, «the beginning». Precisely because of this preeminence Christ is able to become the beginning of the resurrection of all, the «firstborn from the dead», because «all will have life in Christ”.
In the conclusion the hymn celebrates the «fullness» of Christ, as gift of love from the Father. “He is the fullness of divinity which irradiates both in the universe and on humanity, becoming the source of peace, unity, perfect harmony”. Through the blood shed by Christ on the cross we were justified and sanctified: “Shedding his blood and giving himself Christ effused peace which, in biblical language is the sum of messianic goods and the fullness of redemption extended to all creation. The hymn ends therefore with a bright horizon of reconciliation, unity, harmony and peace over which there rises the solemn figure of its author, Christ, «beloved Son» of the Father.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2005, righe 31, parole 459)