Instrumentum mensis Septembris pro lectura Magisterii Summi Pontifici Benedicti XVI, pro evangelizatione in terris missionum

Saturday, 8 October 2005

Although Pope Benedict XVI spent most of September at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo, he continued is normal activity of meeting visitors from all over the world on Sundays for the midday Angelus prayer, he received bishops and ambassadors, prominent figures in the world of culture and science. Every Wednesday he flew by helicopter to Rome for the audience in St Peter’s Square. The celebration of the 11th Synod of Bishops and the conclusion of the special Year of the Eucharist were recurrent themes in his reflection before the Angelus prayer. The Pope encouraged Catholics to accompany the work of the synod with prayer, he spoke of the sanctification of priests in the sacrament of the Eucharist and the bond between the Eucharist and charity. In Castel Gandolfo the Pope held an important interreligious meeting with Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar and Rabbi Yona Metzger. He recalled the 40th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate issued by Vatican II. A text still useful today for Catholic relations with members of other religions, Jews in particular. During this month the Holy Father received four different groups of Mexican Bishops on ad limina visit. He spoke profoundly on the situation and the situation of the Church in Mexico, and formation of clergy. He reminded the Bishops of the need to base missionary activity on the sacrament of the Eucharist, “source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”.


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