Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - During his Angelus reflection on Sunday 3 December Pope Benedict XVI said “I wish with you to thank God for my apostolic journey to Turkey in which I felt I accompanied and sustained by the prayer of the whole Christian community. To all I offer warmest thanks!”. Explaining that during his Wednesday audience he would speak more at length of that unforgettable spiritual and pastoral experience”, the Pope said hoped the Journey would bear fruits of sincere cooperation among all the disciples of Christ and fruitful dialogue with Muslim believers”.
Speaking of the “beloved Catholic community in Turkey” living in conditions which are not easy the Pope said it is “truly a small flock, varied, rich in enthusiasm and faith, living continually we might say, the experience of Advent sustained by hope”. The Pope then recalled that “in Advent the Liturgy reminds us and assures us, almost as if to overcome our natural diffidence, that God "comes"... This is why Advent is the season of hope par excellence, when believers in Christ are called to keep active watch, nourished by prayer and active commitment of love”.
During the season of Advent “the Liturgy invites us to look at Most Holy Mary, and to walk ideally with Her towards the Stable in Bethlehem” said Pope Benedict XVI recalling also “in a few days time we will contemplate Mary in the luminous mystery of her Immaculate Conception”. The Pope concluded: “let us be drawn by her beauty, reflection of divine glory so that the "Lord who comes" may find our hearts open and good and fill them with His gifts”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2006 - righe 24, parole 334)
