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Skriven 2006-12-11 20:45:22 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                               VIS-Press releases

BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD AMONG MANKIND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father appeared at
the window of his study, to pray the Angelus with pilgrims gathered below in
St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled how a few hours previously he had inaugurated the new church
of the Roman parish of St. Mary Star of Evangelization, an event that "assumes
symbolic significance within the liturgical period of Advent as we prepare to
celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. In these days the liturgy constantly
reminds us that 'God is coming' to visit His people."

"The church-building is a concrete sign of the Church-community, made up of the
'living stones' that are the believers," said the Pope. "St. Peter and St. Paul
both highlight how the 'cornerstone' of this spiritual temple is Christ and
that, united to Him, ... we too are called to participate in the construction
of this living temple. If, then, it is true that it is God who takes the
initiative to come and live among men, and that He is the principal architect
of this project, it is also true that He does not want to accomplish it without
our active collaboration. Therefore, preparing for Christmas means commitment
to building the 'house of God with men.' ... At the end of time it will be
complete, and it will be the 'heavenly Jerusalem'."

"Advent invites us to turn our gaze towards the 'heavenly Jerusalem,' which is
the final goal of our earthly pilgrimage. At the same time, it exhorts us to
commit ourselves with prayer, conversion and good works, to welcoming Jesus
into our lives, to constructing together with him that spiritual building in
which each of us - our families and our communities - is a precious stone."

After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of his concern for the
situation in the Middle East, "where glimmers of hope for resolving the crises
that afflict the region alternate with tensions and difficulties that cause us
to fear fresh violence."

In this context, he made special mention of Lebanon. There, he said quoting
John Paul II's 1997 post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation A New Hope for Lebanon,
"yesterday as today, 'men from different cultures and religions are called to
live together, to build a nation of dialogue and coexistence and to work
together for the common good.' Hence, in the face of recent developments, I
share the great concern expressed by the patriarch, His Beatitude Cardinal
Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, and by Maronite bishops in a communique made public
last Wednesday.

"Together with them, I ask the Lebanese and their political leaders to have as
their exclusive concern the good of the country and the harmony of its
communities," in order to achieve "the unity which is the responsibility of all
and of each, and which requires patient and persevering efforts and a trusting
and permanent dialogue.

"I also hope," the Pope concluded, "that the international community will help
to find ... the peaceful and balanced solutions so necessary for Lebanon and
for the entire Middle East, and I invite everyone to prayer at this difficult
moment."
ANG/ADVENT:LEBANON/... VIS 061211 (530)

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