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Arturo Mari

Herald Tribune - Pope Benedict XVI made a solemn journey to the graves of his parents and sister Wednesday, kneeling before their tombstone, hands clasped in prayer.

Accompanied by his brother the Rev. Georg Ratzinger his only remaining close relative and a small group of church officials, Benedict arrived at the Ziegetsdorf cemetery just outside Regensburg wearing white papal robes and a skullcap.


Arturo Mari

Benedict knelt before the white tombstone, engraved with a cross and the names of his parents, Joseph and Maria Ratzinger. He looked straight ahead with his hands clasped as his brother stood silently beside him.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/13/europe/EU_REL_Germany_Pope_Visit.php

Reuters

CNS- Children in traditional Bavarian costumes gave Pope Benedict XVI posies and a boys choir sang folksongs as the pope walked along a red carpet to the plane that was to take him back to Rome.

Speaking at the Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich, Pope Benedict said farewell to his homeland after a six-day visit to Bavaria. He said he had been "very moved by the enthusiasm and evident fervent devotion of the faithful who gathered to listen to the word of God and to join in prayer." Adding to his prepared text, he said he also had been moved by all those "who greeted me on the streets and the squares."

www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21256


Arturo Mari

VIS - In his farewell address prior to departure, the Holy Father explained how during his time in Germany, "I was able to see how many people in Bavaria still today are endeavoring to journey in communion with their bishops along the paths of God and, in today's secularized world, to testify to their faith."

"He expressed his recognition for the "the tireless efforts of the organizers," and for everyone's "attention and care which touched me deeply. .... To all of you I offer heartfelt thanks and the assurance of a special remembrance in my prayers.

"I came to Germany," he added, "to bring once more to my fellow citizens the eternal truths of the Gospel and to confirm believers in their fidelity to Christ, the Son of God, Who became man for the salvation of the world. I am convinced, in faith, that in Christ, in His Word, we find the way not only to eternal happiness, but also to the building of a humane future even now, here on earth."

Benedict XVI then went on to recall that today, September 14, marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical 'Laborem Exercens,' in which the "great Pope John Paul II called work 'a fundamental dimension of man's existence on earth,' and insisted that 'the primary basis of the value of work is man himself.' Work, he observed, is therefore 'something good for man,' because with it 'man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but also achieves fulfillment as a human being, and, in a certain sense, becomes more human'."


AP

Benedict XVI's Farewell to Bavaria

As I leave Bavaria for Rome, I would like to say to you here present, and through you to all the citizens of my native land, a word of cordial greeting and of heartfelt thanks. I was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and fervent devotion of the faithful who gathered to listen to the Word of God and to join in prayer.

I was able to see how many people in Bavaria still today are endeavoring to journey in communion with their bishops along the paths of God and to testify to their faith in today's secularized world. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the organizers, everything took place in an orderly and peaceful way. And so my first word, in this farewell, must be one of thanks.

I turn first to you, Mr. Minister President, with gratitude for the kind words which you have spoken in the name of all. I thank the other civil and ecclesiastical authorities gathered here, especially those who contributed to the success of this visit, which enabled me to meet so many people from this region which still has a special place in my heart. These have been busy days, when I relived many past events which have left a mark on my life.

Everywhere I was received with an attention and care which touched me deeply. I can only imagine the challenges, concerns and the work involved in organizing this stay in Bavaria: Many people had a part to play, both those from the Church, regional and state agencies, and the many people who volunteered their time. To all of you I offer heartfelt thanks and the assurance of a special remembrance in my prayers.

I came to Germany to bring once more to my fellow-citizens the eternal truths of the Gospel and to confirm believers in their fidelity to Christ, the Son of God, who became man for the salvation of the world. I am convinced, in faith, that in Christ, in his word, we find the way not only to eternal happiness, but also to the building of a humane future even now, here below.

Impelled by this conviction, the Church, led by the Spirit, has constantly looked to the Word of God so as to be able to respond to new historical challenges. She did so in a special way with regard to the problems arising from the so-called worker question, beginning particularly in the second half of the 19th century. ....

And now, as I take leave of my beloved homeland, I entrust the present and future of Bavaria and of Germany to the intercession of all those saints who lived in German territory, faithfully serving Christ and experiencing in their lives the truth expressed in the words which have been like a leitmotif during the various parts of my visit: "Those who believe are never alone."

This too was surely the experience of the composer of the traditional hymn of the Bavarian people. In his words, which are also a prayer, I would like to leave behind my own prayer for my homeland: "God be with you, land of the Bavarian people, German soil, my native land! Upon your vast borders may his hand rest in blessing! May he watch over your countryside and cities, and keep for you the colors of his white and blue sky!"
www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=94876

AP

The Pope returned from Bavaria on Thursday, lading at Ciampino in a rain storm. He was on schedule in spite of having departed late from Munich.

Journalists travelling on the Popes flight were not able to go to Freising and watched the event on the TV in the departure lounge at the airport. Suddenly the Pope departed from his prepared text and there was much consternation among those who did not understand German. Simultaneous translation was soon provided and the journalist filed their stories quickly on their laptops before boarding ahead of the Popes arrival. They had to watch the departure ceremony from the plane.

The Popes Airbus 321 Lufthansa plane, named Regensburg, was piloted by Captain Martin Ott, who also flew him home last year after his visit to Cologne. Captain Ott was a student of Professor Ratzinger at the University of Regensburg.

The plane flew low over places associated with Joseph Ratzingers early life Auschau am Inn, Marktl, Tittmoning, south towards Salzburg and then over Traunstein. The Pope was in the cockpit to receive a greeting and send a message to the people gathered below. The radio transmission was organised by the German army.

Jets from the Austrian air force gave the Popes aircraft an honour escort through Austrian airspace to the Italian border.

The Pope was served a Bavarian lunch and did not, on this return trip, talk to the press in the back of the plane.

Shortly before landing the Captain thanked the Pope for the visit and the sound of the Domspatzen with the music Anton Bruckner filled the aircraft. Monsignor Georg Ratzinger had chosen the music for the flight with Captain Ott.


AP

The Pope was met by a Archbishop James Harvey and a delegation from the Holy See (with a large white umbrella) and driven to Castelgandolfo. The Pope has returned from the homeland of his heart to the homeland of his office.

Sandro Magister's Anthology of the Pope's Apostolic Visit to Bavaria.

Of the trip that Benedict XVI made to his homeland of Bavaria, what was most striking was the extraordinary lecture he gave in the main hall of the University of Regensburg...
But it is the complete itinerary that reveals the vision of this pope. At one event after another, Ratzinger made this a pilgrimage to the sources of faith, for himself and for everyone.

The greeting and the prayer in the central square of Munich, on Saturday, September 9, were the overture. The pope presented himself as Gods beast of burden, one assigned a heavy task, but certain that his Owner is near and is guiding him in building the Church. ...


Reuters

In the homily for the Mass on Sunday, September 10, Benedict XVI kept himself as he does at all the other celebrations to the readings from the liturgy of the day.


Reuters

The Gospel told of Jesus healing a deaf-mute. The pope called attention to the deafness toward God that afflicts our age. And he warned clerics not to put social activism before the primacy of evangelization. ....

At vespers that same day, the pope addressed the children who had received their first communion, together with their parents and teachers.


AP

He reminded them of their baptism. He urged them to go to Sunday Mass together, to pray together at home at mealtimes and before going to bed, and to talk about God without timidity even at school.




On Monday the 11th, at the Mass at the Marian shrine of Alttting, Benedict XVI explained the Gospel passage about the wedding at Cana, in order to learn from Mary how to pray in the right way....

At Vespers, he urged the priests and seminarians present to celebrate the Mass each day, to recite the liturgy of the hours, to read the Sacred Scriptures, to adore the Eucharist....


AP

On Tuesday 12th at the Mass in Islinger filed the Pope returned to a simple presentation of that summation of faith .


Reuters

That afternoon, at the University of Regensburg, he gave the address on Faith and Reason which has sparked the controversy.


Arturo Mari

It was followed by an ecumenical celebration of Vespers at the Cathedral in which he spoke, among other things of Justification:


AP

The agreement on justification remains an important task, one not yet fully complete: in theology justification is an essential theme, but in the life of the faithful today it seems to me it is only dimly present. Because of the dramatic events of our time, the theme of mutual forgiveness is felt with increased urgency, yet there is little perception of our fundamental need of Gods forgiveness, of our justification by him. Our modern consciousness in general is no longer aware of the fact that we stand as debtors before God and that sin is a reality which can be overcome only by Gods initiative. Behind this weakening of the theme of justification and of the forgiveness of sins is ultimately a weakening of our relation with God.

At the Alte Kappele on the 13th, where he inaugurated the organ, he gave a beautiful short talk taking the organ as a symbol for harmony.


Arturo Mari

...music and song are more than an embellishment of worship; they are themselves part of the liturgical action. Solemn sacred music, with choir, organ, orchestra and the singing of the people, is not an addition of sorts that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship. The organ has always been considered, and rightly so, the king of musical instruments, because it takes up all the sounds of creation and gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments. By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine. The organs great range of timbre, from piano through to a thundering fortissimo, makes it an instrument superior to all others. It is capable of echoing and expressing all the experiences of human life. The manifold possibilities of the organ in some way remind us of the immensity and the magnificence of God.
Magister's anthology:
www.chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=83684&eng=y