Benedict XVI and Israeli President Shimon Peres met for 40 minutes this morning at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence. Peres gave the Pope a silver Menorah. In the Vatican’s press release, the two leaders reiterated their condemnation of all forms of violence in the Middle East. They also expressed hope that the resumption of direct contacts between Israelis and Palestinians will help re…

During his Sunday Angelus Address, Pope Benedict said he was thinking with particular affection of the trapped miners in San Jose, Chile. He assured them and their families of his constant prayer in the hope of a happy conclusion to the work that’s being done to rescue them. The 33 Chilean miners have been trapped for more than 20 days 700 meters below ground. The Holy Father also recalled that on…

“Every one of us should have a saint that is familiar, close with prayer and intercession, but also to imitate him.” With reassuring words, Benedict XVI has again indicated the example saints, in order to discover the joy that never disappoints — the love that speaks in silence. “Sometimes you have a sort of fear of recollection – said the Pope during the general catechesis dell”udienza – often…

“My thoughts go out to Mogadishu from where we continue to get news of violent atrocities and that yesterday was the scene of another massacre, I am close to the families of the victims and all those in Somalia who are suffering from the hatred and instability. I hope with the help of the international community, no effort will be spared to re-establish respect for life and human rights.”…

Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us: Those were Pope Benedict XVI’s words to the faithful, on Sunday, before reciting the Angelus prayer. The Pope noted that Sunday’s liturgy, eight days after the feast of the Assumption, makes us venerate the Virgin under the title of Queen, because – he explained – Mary is the first that passed through the “Road” opened by Christ leading to the Kingdom of God, a wa…

My thoughts at this time to the dear people of Pakistan, recently hit by severe flooding, which caused many casulties and left many families homeless. As I entrust to the merciful goodness of God all those who are tragically gone, I express my spiritual closeness to their families and all who suffer because of this disaster. Our solidarity and the concrete support of the international community mu…

Pope Benedict XVI recalled Pope Pius X during his weekly general audience on Wednesday. He said St. Pius X taught us all that the basis of our apostolic activity in the various fields in which we operate, must always be an intimate personal union with Christ, which grows and increases day by day. The Pope mentioned the motto of the saint’s pontificate, “To Renew All Things in Christ”, and pointed…

Pope Benedict XVI, quoting Pope Paul VI, called on believers to entrust themselves to Mary, who “assumed into heaven, has not abandoned her mission of intercession and salvation.” He was speaking to more than 4000 faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo during the Angelus on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Father reca…

Pope Benedict XVI prayed the Angelus at Castel Gandolfo this Sunday. In his remarks ahead of the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, Pope Benedict reflected on the Gospel reading for this Sunday, saying Jesus continues his discourse to the disciples about the worth of the person and about how useless earthly concerns really are, and illustrates how the expectation of the fulfilment of the “bles…