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Skriven 2005-12-13 06:16:16 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.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

HOLY FATHER PAYS TRADITIONAL VISIT TO PIZZA DI SPAGNA

VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2005 (VIS) - Today at 4 p.m. Benedict XVI travelled by car
to Rome's Piazza di Spagna to place the traditional floral wreath at the foot
of the statue of Mary in celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception.

Before arriving in the square, the Holy Father stopped briefly at the Church of
the Most Holy Trinity to greet the Dominican Friars and the members of the Via
Condotti Storeowners Association. Once in the square, in the presence of
thousands of faithful, he blessed a basket of roses which was placed at the
foot of the column bearing Mary's statue.

"On this day," said the Holy Father, "I have, for the first time as Peter's
Successor, come here to the foot of the statue Mary Immaculate in Piazza di
Spagna, spiritually following the pilgrimage so often undertaken by my
predecessors. ... I bring with me the fears and hopes of humanity of our time
and I place them here at the feet of the heavenly Mother of the Redeemer."

The Pope again recalled the 40th anniversary of the closing of Vatican Council
II, and the Eucharistic celebration held in St. Peter's Square on that occasion
when "Paul VI turned his thoughts to the Virgin 'the Mother of God and our
spiritual Mother, ... the creature in which God's image is reflected with
absolute clarity'."

"Remembering the many events that marked the last 40 years, how can we not
recall today the various moments that characterized the Church's journey over
this period? Over those four decades, the Virgin has given her support to
pastors and, in the first place, to Peter's Successors. ... She has guided the
Church towards a faithful understanding and application of the conciliar
documents. For this reason, speaking for the entire ecclesial community, I
would like to thank the most Holy Virgin ... with the same sentiments that
animated the Conciliar Fathers who dedicated to her the last chapter of the
Dogmatic Constitution 'Lumen gentium,' highlighting the unbreakable bond that
unites the Virgin to the Church."

"Virgin Mother of God, and Mother of ours," the Pope cried, "teach us to keep
the mysteries of Christ's life in our hearts, and to meditate in silence as you
did. You who proceeded to Calvary, ... let us also feel you near in all moments
of life, especially moments of darkness and trial. You who at the Pentecost,
together with the Apostles in prayer, implored the gift of the Holy Spirit for
the nascent Church, help us to follow Christ faithfully. To you we trustingly
turn our gaze 'as a sign of sure hope and solace ... until the day of the Lord
shall come'."
AC/IMMACULATE CONCEPTION/SPANISH SQUARE VIS 051209 (470)

SUMMARY

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