Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Sunday 9 October Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the congregation for the causes of saints, celebrated Mass in St Peter’s and, charged by Pope Benedict XVI, he read the Apostolic Letter with which the Holy Father inscribed in the Register of the Blessed, Clemens August Graf von Galen (1878-1946) bishop of Münster. At the end of the celebration the Pope descended to the Basilica to venerate the relics of the new Blessed and address thousands of Germans who had travelled to Rome for the occasion. He then addressed the crowds gathered in the Square from his window for the Angelus prayer.
The Pope recalled the new Blessed as an “intrepid opposer of the Nazi regime”. “In God’s name he denounced the neo-pagan ideology of National-Socialism, defending the freedom of the Church and human rights gravely violated, protecting Jews and the weakest citizens which the regime thought should be eliminated” the Pope said, holding him up as a “model of Christian courage”. “This is the message ever timely of Blessed von Galen: faith is not merely a private sentiment, to be hidden when it is embarrassing, it implicates coherence witness also in public in favour of mankind, justice and truth”.
The Holy Father then mentioned the assembly of the Synod of Bishops reflecting on the theme of the Eucharist in the Church’s life and mission. “For the Synod I ask you to keep praying that it may bear the expected fruits” the Pope said recalling that in this month of October “every ecclesial community is called to renew its missionary commitment”, he invited those present to re-read the part of the apostolic letter Mane nobiscum Domine where Pope John Paul II speaks of the Eucharist as "principle and project of mission" (nn. 24-28). Benedict XVI then entrusted this intention to the intercession of Most Holy Mary and Saint Daniel Comboni whose feast falls on 10 October: “He was an illustrious evangeliser and protector of the continent of Africa, may he help the Church of our day to respond with faith and with courage to the mandate of the Risen Lord who sends her to announce God’s love to all peoples”.
After the Marian prayer the Pope greeted those present in different languages and launched to appeals. In English the Pope urged the international community to offer “rapid and generous” assistance to earthquake victims in south east Asia, causing serious damage and loss of life in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan: “I commend to the loving mercy of God all who lost their lives and express my profound closeness to thousands of people injured or affected”. In Spanish the Pope said: “I wish to mention the people of the beloved nations of Central America and Mexico suffering the consequences of heavy rain and floods which have caused material damage and loss of life. I pray for the eternal repose of the dead and express my spiritual closeness to those who have lost their homes and livelihood. I call on institutions and people of goodwill to offer effective assistance in a spirit of authentic fraternal solidarity ”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2005; righe 39, parole 567)
