Scottish Catholic Observer

On Monday, Pope Benedict XVI returned to the missionary house overlooking Lake Nemi, where he stayed while working on the Second Vatican Council saying ‘the missionary dynamic is alive, and it lives only if there is the joy of the Gospel.’

In a short unscripted speech to the 140 missionaries gathered at the Divine Word Missionaries’ Ad Gentes centre, he revealed how in 1965 as a ‘a very young theologian of no great importance,’ he was invited by the then superior general of the worldwide order and council father, Johannes Schütte, to take part in an ‘important and beautiful task, to prepare a decree on mission.’

Arrival

Pope Benedict arrived at the retreat house shortly before midday (above ). The men representing more than 70 countries worldwide had gathered in the chapel, where strong sunlight illuminated stained glass windows depicting Gospel scenes.

“His arrival was electric,” Fr Pat Byrne SVD, provincial superior for Great Britain and Ireland said. “The very first thing he did was kneel before the altar and the Blessed Sacrament and we joined him in silent prayer. Then he spoke from the heart, in Italian, taking a trip down memory lane to bring us a message of hope.”

The Holy Father said it was wonderful to return to the house, nearly half a century later.

“I am truly grateful for this opportunity to see this house in Nemi once again, after 47 years,” the Pope said. “I have fond memories of it, perhaps the most memorable of the whole council. I lived in the centre of Rome, in the Collegio dell’Anima with all the noise. This too was nice, but staying here, surrounded by this greenery, having this breath of nature, this fresh air, was in itself a beautiful thing. And then, in the company of many great theologians and a such an important and beautiful task, to prepare a decree on mission.”

Memories

Pope Benedict shared his memories of those he had worked with during his last stay.

“First of all, I remember, the general of that time, Fr Schütte, who had suffered in China, had been convicted, then expelled: he was full of missionary zeal, the need to give new impetus to the missionary spirit and had invited me, a very young theologian of no great importance, I do not know why, but it was a great gift for me,” he said. “Then there was Joseph Frings [Cardinal—Archbishop of Cologne, Germany m 1942 to 1969] who would fascinate us in the evenings with his talks; Fr Congar [Dominican Cardinal and prominent theologian], the great Missiologists of Louvain, and so on. For me, it was spiritual enrichment, a great gift.”

The Holy Father said he had ‘often thought of those days of Nemi that, as I said, an essential part of the council for me.’

“And I am happy to see that your society flourishes—the father general spoke of six thousand members in many countries, from many nations,” the Pope said. “Clearly the missionary dynamic is alive, and it lives only if there is the joy of the Gospel, if we experience the good that comes from God and that must and wants to communicate itself. Thank you for this dynamism. I wish you every blessing of the Lord for this chapter, and a lot of inspiration: that the same forces inspiring power of the Holy Spirit that almost visibly accompanied us during those days may once again be present among you and help you find your path both for your Society and for the mission Ad Gentes of the Gospel for the coming years.”