Benedict XVI arrives at St Peter's Square for the Mass opening the Year of Faith
---
Pope Benedict XVI opened the Year of Faith yesterday at a Mass in St Peter’s Square attended by 14 surviving Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, reports the Catholic Herald.
The open-air Mass, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, was preceded by a grand procession of 400 or so bishops.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, said: “When you look at the television images of Vatican II from 50 years ago, first of all you see a big procession with all the bishops. We will repeat the same.
“It should be a moment of prayer, a moment of spirituality, and also a moment when we can take into serious consideration the teachings of Vatican II,” he said.
The papal Mass was concelebrated by bishops and theologians who, like the Pope, served as Council Fathers or experts at Vatican II.
Also present were the presidents of the bishops’ conferences from around the world.
After the episcopal procession, the Sacred Scriptures were enthroned, just as they were in a ceremony before the Second Vatican Council. Archbishop Fisichella has said this is to “remind everyone that they were at the service of the Word of God, which lies at the heart of the Church’s activities”.
He said the lectern and copy of the Sacred Scriptures would be the same ones as used 50 years ago.
FULL STORY Pope Benedict opens Year of Faith (Catholic Herald)
RELATED COVERAGE
Pope says laypeople can help change the world (NCR)
Pope urges Catholics to rekindle faith (Yahoo7)
Pope Benedict recalls Vatican II with praise and criticism (CNS)