VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI visits Vatican Apostolic Library: “Your task is to safeguard the harmony between culture and faith revealed by the precious documents and treasures in your care”

Tuesday, 26 June 2007

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Vatican Library, which is to undergo a few years of major renovation, “not by chance is called ‘Apostolic’ because as an Institution it has been considered since its foundation, ‘the Library of the Pope', his own library” Pope Benedict XVI said in his address on 25 June when he visited the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican's Secret Archives. The Pope recalled the bond which links the Apostolic Library to the Successor of Peter, reaffirmed by his Predecessors: Pope Sixtus IV spoke of its mission: "Ad decorem militantis Ecclesiae et fidei augmentum - For the credit of the Church militant and for the diffusion of the faith". Pope Nicholas V indicated its finalities: "Pro communi doctorum virorum commodo - For the utility and common interest of men of science". John Paul II also referred to this special bond. “During the centuries - the Pope said - the Vatican Library assimilated and perfected his mission with an unmistakable characterisation, until becoming today a hospitable house of science, culture, open to scholars from all over the world of any origin, religion or culture. Your task dear friends who work here every day is to safeguard the harmony between culture and faith revealed by the precious documents and treasures in your care, by the walls around you, by the Museums which are close by and by the splendid Basilica which can be seen from your windows.”
In his address the Pope said he was familiar with the work in the Secret Archives and in the Apostolic Library which draw scholars and researchers from all over the world. “The Secret Archives and the Apostolic Library receive messages of appreciation and esteem from cultural Institutes and individual scholars from many different countries” The Pope said expressing his gratitude and his closeness. Benedict XVI told the Library staff that on his own 70th birthday he "would have liked the beloved John Paul II to have granted me the chance of dedicating myself to study and research on the interesting documents you safeguard so carefully, real masterworks that help us to follow the story of humanity and of Christianity. However in his divine providence the Lord had other plans for my person and today I come here not as an enthusiastic scholar of ancient texts but as a Shepherd called to encourage all the faithful to cooperate in the salvation of the world, each doing the will of God wherever He wishes us to work”.
Pope Benedict XVI concluded by urging those present to “consider this work as a mission to be undertaken with passion, patience, gentleness and a spirit of faith. Strive to offer the image of a welcoming Apostolic See, aware that the Gospel message is carried along by your own consistent witness”. After his address the Pope announced that he has appointed Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. In his place as Archivist Librarian of Holy Roman Church, the Pope appointed Mgr. Raffaele Farina and that he has called Mgr Cesare Pasini to be Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/6/2007, righe 37, parole 542)


Share: