Excerpts from the Pope's speeches in Pavia

Some highlights that I've taken from the texts made available by the Papa Ratzinger Forum.

"From the remarks given by the Holy Father to the people of Vigevano, particularly the youth and the sick, from the balcony of the Bishop's Palace shortly after his arrival this afternoon":

... I am happy to be among you and I thank you for your heartwarming and festive welcome. Getting off the helicopter, I could almost hear the echo of all the bells that rung in unison at noon in all your churches as a greeting to me, and I thank you for that gesture of affection.

... Here at Vigevano, the only Lombard diocese not visited by my venerated predecessor John Paul II, I wished to begin my pastoral pilgrimage in Italy. It is like taking up where he left off in proclaiming to the men and women of our beloved Italy the news, ancient but ever new, that resounds with particular vigor during this Easter season: Christ is risen! Christ lives! Christ is with us today for always!

... I address a special thought to the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament whom I met shortly before arriving here - their prayerful presence constitutes for the entire diocese a perennial reminder to increasingly consider the importance of the Eucharist, center and summit of the life of the Church. To these dear sisters who have consecrated all their existence to the Lord, I send my encouragement and my appreciation.

...In a short while, when we shall all be reunited around the altar for the solemn Eucharistic concelebration, let us pray that the Risen Lord grant that this visit by the Successor of Peter may inspire in every member of your diocesan community a renewed spiritual fervor.

"From the homily delivered by the Holy Father during the Mass at Vigevano's Piazza Ducale" [this is a wondrous reflection on today's Gospel of John 21, obviously, I'm just pulling highpoints, I urge you to read it all!]:

... This time, he [Jesus] meets them at sea, a place that brings to mind the difficulties and tribulations of life. He meets them there as day breaks after futile work during the whole night. Their net was empty. In some way, this appears like the sum total of their experience with Jesus: they came to know Him, they were beside Him, and He had promised them so many things. And now, here they were with no fish in their net. But Jesus comes at dawn to meet them, although they do not recognize Him right away. The 'dawn' in the Bible often indicates a moment of extraordinary intervention by God.

... Dear brothers and sisters, may the Church in Vigevano repeat with John's enthusiasm: Jesus Christ "is the Lord' and may your diocesan commnity listen to the Lord who, through me, repeats to you: "Cast the net, church of Vigevano, and you will find." Indeed I have come among you to encourage you, above all, to be ardent witnesses for Christ. It is faithful adherence to His words that makes your pastoral efforts fruitful. Whenever the work in the vineyard of the Lord seems to be in vain, as was the nocturnal effort of the Apostles, you must not forget that Jesus can change everything in a moment. The Gospel page that we have heard reminds us, on the one hand, that we should commit ourselves totally to pastoral activities as though the outcome depended completely on our efforts. On the other hand, it makes us understand that the true success of our mission is totally a gift of grace. In the mysterious deisgns of His wisdom, God knows when He must intervene. Thus, just as obedient compliance to the words of the Lord filled their net with fish, so also, in all times, even ours, the Spoirit of the Lord can make the mission of the Church effective in the world.

... Obviously, I cannot omit expressing an affectionate thought for the seminarians who are the hope of the Diocese.

...Never extinguish in your hearts that missionary enthusiasm inspired in your diocesan commuinity by those providential sessions which had ardently hoped for a papal visit to Vigevano. Following the fundamental orientations of the Synod and the directives of your present Bishop, remain united among yourselves and open up to the vast horizons of evangelization.

... Finally, what must we say about the family? It is the fundamental element of social life, and only by working in the interests of the family can we renew the fabric of the ecclesiastical community and civic society itself. [All the newspaper reports say that the Pope's words on the family were greeted wieth great applause, which made him add, "I see that we are in agreement!"]

"The Holy Father arrived by helicopter in Pavia at 8 PM and proceeded to the Piazza del Duomo for a meeting with the diocesan youth. After welcome speeches by Mayor Piera CAPitelli and Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, who represented the Italian government, the Pope delivered this address, translated here":

... I come tonight to renew to you the news that is always fresh, to entrust to you a message which, when received, changes our existence, renews it and fills it. The Church proclaims this message with particular joy in this Easter period: Christ is risen and lives among us!

How many persons of your age, dear young people, have met Him and become His friends in the course of history. They followed Him faithfully and many gave witness of their love with their own lives!

Do not therefore be afraid to give your life to Christ: He never disappoints our expectations because He knows what is in our hearts.

"At 9 a.m. today, the Holy Father left the Bishop's Palace to visit the St. Matthew Polyclinic in Pavia, where he met with hospital officials, medical personnel adn patients in the internal courtyard. After a welcome from the hospital director and a representative of the patients, the Holy Father delivered the following remarks, translated here" [this speech has been receiving the most MSM attention, of course]:

... A hospital is a place which we could say is in some way 'sacred' - where one experiences the fragility of the human being, but also the enormous potential and ingenious resources of man and of technology in the service of life. The life of man! This great gift, no matter how much it has been explored, remains always a mystery.

... My sincere wish is that necessary scientific and technological progress be constantly accompanied by the awareness of promoting - along with the good of the patient - also those fundamental values like respect for and defense of life at every stage, on which the authentically human quality of any life depends.

[photo: AP Photo/Antonio Calanni]