Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Sunday 10 December, as Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI went to consecrate a new parish church in the outskirts of Rome dedicated to Mary, Star of Evangelisation. Before the Angelus prayer the Pope reflected on the significance of that Liturgy in the Season of Advent. “In these days the Liturgy continues to remind us that "God comes" to visit his people, to live among us and build with us a communion of love and life, in other words a family - the Pope said -. This is how Saint John’s Gospel expresses the mystery of the Incarnation: "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us "; literally: "pitched his tent among us " (Jn 1,14). Does not a church built among the homes of a town or a city district, evoke this great gift and mystery?”.
Pope Benedict XVI continued “the church-building is a concrete sign, built of "living stones" the believers”, closely united with Christ "the cornerstone" of this spiritual temple. “Preparing for Christmas means striving to build ‘God’s dwelling place among us. No one is excluded; everyone can and must help to make this home of communion spacious and beautiful. At the end of time when it is finished it will be the "heavenly Jerusalem" … Advent invites is to turn our gaze towards "heavenly Jerusalem ", the goal of our earthly pilgrimage. At the same time it encourages us to strive with prayer, conversion and good works to welcome Jesus into our lives and build with him this spiritual house of which each of us - our families and our communities - is a precious stone.”
After the Marian prayer the Pope appealed for peace in the Middle East , “where hope for a solution to the crisis which travails the region alternate with tension and difficulties which make us fear more violence”, in particular for the Lebanon, “where, today as in the past, "people who are different on the cultural and religious level are called to lived together to build a nation of ‘dialogue and co-existence’ and to promote the common good" (Ap. Exhortation. New Hope for Lebanon, n. 119)”. The Pope endorsed the anxiety expressed by Patriarch, His Beatitude Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, and the Maronite Bishops, calling on the people and political leaders of Lebanon to “have at heart only the good of the nation and harmony among its communities, encouraging their striving for unity which is the responsibility of each and all and requires patience and perseverance, as well as ongoing dialogue in trust (cfr ibid. n. 120)”. The Pope concluded: “I hope the international community will help identify urgent peaceful solutions necessary for Lebanon and the whole of the Middle East, while I urge everyone to pray at this grave time”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2006 - righe 33, parole 501)
