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Skriven 2006-05-18 06:06:44 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

GENERAL AUDIENCE: PETER'S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2006 (VIS) - In his catechesis at today's general
audience, Benedict XVI continued his reflections on the apostolic ministry,
concentrating on the "personality of the individual Apostles." The audience was
held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 60,000 people.

"Peter," said the Holy Father, "is the best known and most mentioned person in
the New Testament. ... He had a small fishing business on the Lake of
Gennesaret ... and was animated by a sincere religiosity that moved him to go
with his brother to Judea, following the preaching of John the Baptist.

"He was a faithful Jew, who believed in God's active presence in the history of
His people, and was pained at not seeing His powerful action in the events of
which he was, at that time, a witness. ... The Gospels tell us that Peter was
one of the first four disciples of Jesus, to whom was added a fifth in keeping
with the custom of rabbis to have five disciples. When Jesus went from five to
twelve disciples the novelty of His mission became clear: He had come to gather
the eschatological Israel, symbolized by the number twelve, the number of the
tribes of Israel."

The Pope added: "Simon appears in the Gospels with a strong and impulsive
character; he is ready to make his opinions felt, even by force. ... At the
same time, he is also occasionally ingenuous and fearful, yet honest and
capable of sincere repentance.

"The Gospels allow us to follow his spiritual itinerary step by step. The
starting point was the call by Jesus, which came on a day like any other, while
Peter was busy at his work as a fisherman." Jesus said to him "'let down your
nets for a catch.' ... Simon the fisherman trusted this rabbi, who gave him no
answers but called on him to have faith. ... Peter allowed himself to be
involved in this great adventure. ... He was generous, he recognized his limits
but believed in the One Who called him and followed his heart. He said yes and
became a disciple of Jesus."

"Peter experienced another significant moment on his spiritual journey near
Caesarea Philippi when Jesus posed a specific question to His disciples: "'Who
do men say that I am?' ... And Peter replied also on behalf of the others: 'You
are the Christ'."

"This reply," said Benedict XVI, "has within it the seed of the Church's future
profession of faith. However, Peter had not yet understood the profound
substance of Jesus' messianic mission, as became clear shortly afterwards when
he made it known that the Messiah he sought in his dreams was very different
from God's plan. Faced with the announcement of the passion, he cried out and
protested.

"Peter wanted as Messiah a 'divine man,' who fulfilled people's expectations,
imposing his force upon everyone. Yet, Jesus presented Himself as the 'human
God,' Who overturns the expectations of the multitude by following the path of
humility and suffering. ... Peter thus learned what following Jesus really
means. ... And, though with difficulty, he accepted the invitation and
continued his path in the footsteps of the Master."
AG/APOSTLES/PETER VIS 060517 (540)

SUMMARY

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