Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has said that Faith has a future in Germany, following a four-day state visit to his homeland, which concluded on Sunday.

“Faith in my native Germany has a young face, it is alive, it has a future,” the Pope said in his weekly general audience at the Vatican today.

The Holy Father said his visit to Germany was ‘a great feast of the Faith,’ during which he had seen ‘how it is God who gives our lives their deepest meaning, their true fullness.’

He informed the more than 20,000 pilgrims gathered at St Peter’s this morning (above) that he would like to take the opportunity to go over ‘the intense and wonderful days spent in my native country.’

“I crossed Germany from north to south, from east to west: from the capital Berlin to Erfurt and Eichsfeld and then Freiburg, a city near the border with France and Switzerland,” the Pope said. “First I thank the Lord for the opportunity offered me to meet people and speak about God, to pray together and strengthen brothers and sisters in Faith, according to the particular mandate that the Lord has entrusted to Peter and his successors. This visit, which took place under the motto: ‘Where God is, there is the future,’ was truly a great celebration of faith: in the various meetings and discussions, in the celebrations, especially in the solemn Masses with the people of God. These moments were a precious gift that helped us perceive once more how God gives the deepest meaning, true fullness to our life indeed, that only He gives us, gives us all, a future.”

The Pope went on to speak about the many significant events that took place during his state visit to Germany, including his address to the German Parliament, the first time a Pope has ever made such an address in Germany. Speaking about last Saturday evening’s prayer vigil, the Pope recalled the ‘very festive reception’ with thousands of young people.

“I was happy to see that Faith in my native German has a young face, it is alive and has a future,” the Holy Father said. “I transmitted the flame of the Paschal candle, symbol of light that is Christ, to the young people exhorting them: You are the light of the world. I repeated to them that the Pope is confident in the active collaboration of the youth; with the grace of Christ, they are able to bring the fire of God’s love to the world.”