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Skriven 2006-12-11 20:44:50 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

EUROPE MUST DRAW NEW ENERGY FROM ITS CHRISTIAN ROOTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2006 (VIS) - Early this afternoon, the Pope travelled in
an open-top car to Rome's Piazza di Spagna to pay his traditional homage before
the statue of Mary Immaculate. The Holy Father made the journey standing in
order to greet the thousands of people who lined the streets to see him.

Having reached the monument, a tall column bearing a statue of the Virgin in
front of the Spanish embassy to the Holy See, Benedict laid a basket of roses
at the base of the monument and read a prayer.

"You are full of grace, Mary, full of divine love from the first instant of
your life, providentially predestined to be the Mother of the Redeemer and
intimately associated with Him in the mystery of salvation. ... In you shines
the dignity of all human beings, who are always precious in the eyes of the
Creator. Those who turn their gaze to you, All Holy Mother, never lose their
serenity, however hard the trials of life may be. Although the experience of
sin, that disfigures the dignity of the children of God, is sad, those who turn
to you renew the beauty of truth and of love, and rediscover the path that
leads to the house of the Father."

The Pope called on the Virgin to help us pronounce, as she did, "our 'yes' to
the Lord's will," and to give us the "courage to say 'no' to the snares of
power, money, pleasure and dishonest gain, corruption and hypocrisy,
selfishness and violence. 'No' to the Evil One, deceitful prince of this world.
'Yes' to Christ, Who destroys the power of evil with the omnipotence of His
love. We know that only hearts converted to Love - that is, God - can build a
better future for everyone."

"You are 'full of grace,' Mary! ... To the fount of your immaculate heart, we
come once again as faithful pilgrims to draw faith and consolation, joy and
love, security and peace."

Benedict XVI also called upon the Virgin to be "a Mother and a watchful
guardian over Italy and Europe, so that from their ancient Christian roots
people may know how to draw new lifeblood to build their present and their
future. Show yourself a prudent and merciful Mother to the world entire, so
that, with respect for human dignity and rejecting all forms of violence and
exploitation, solid foundations may be laid for the civilization of love."

"Show yourself as Mother especially to those in particular need: the
defenseless, the marginalized and the excluded, victims of a society that all
too often sacrifices man to other ends and interests. Show yourself, O Mary, as
Mother to everyone, and give us Christ, the Hope of the world! 'Monstra Te esse
Matrem,' Immaculate Virgin full of grace, Amen!"

Following the act of homage, and before returning to the Vatican, the Holy
Father travelled to the basilica of St. Mary Major where he prayed before the
image of the Mother of God, "Salus Populi Romani."
BXVI-HOMAGE/MARY IMMACULATE/... VIS 061211 (520)

SUMMARY

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