POPE BENEDICT:
Dear friends,
A cordial greeting to all of you who have come from the Chiemgau and Rupertiwinkel. With you, said the Landrat, Castel Gandolfo became a Bavarian village, and through you I'm happy because my land is present here in Bavaria. The Lord reward you!
To you, dear Mr. Landrat, my heartfelt thanks for the words that came from the heart came from the heart and have come to my heart have drawn a picture of our country and at the same time, stressed the link with me, for me is a great joy that I have this ring of honor was given , beyond any party affiliation, to any differences which - rightly - are there. For me it is a sign that you are truly "at home", we welcome each other and continue to be part of you. I am happy and grateful for my beautiful land and for this wonderful evening you gave me. The Lord reward you!
Probably, the ring of honor will not be visible in my hand, but will be placed in such a way that I always have it before my eyes and I can still remember what I know deep in my heart: there are at home, in the Chiemgau in Rupertiwinkel, in the places of my youth that you remembered.I am grateful for, even for a moment, you made me experience the beauty and joyousness of Bavarian culture.
Dear Mr. Landrat! She spoke of our earth as the "Land benedicta" and hinted that the monks have developed between us this culture of joy. "Earth benedicta" our land it is really thanks to the Creator gave us mountains, lakes, valleys, forests. We should be grateful because it gave us such a valuable part of the earth. But our land is full "Earth benedicta" basically because people have been touched by the beauty of creation in the faith and goodness of the Creator and, touched by him, were able to give our land to full brilliance and ability to reflect it. What would Munich without the towers with onion domes of our churches, without the splendid baroque and the joyfulness of the redeemed that they expand?Without our music, the sacred - that makes you look directly into the Paradise - and the profane? For you as a musician, a big thank you: you have been very good at presenting here the Bavarian music and you reminded me once again that there are at home, I come from there and continue to do the land part. The Lord reward you!
Without the churches, crosses the streets, chapels - as also pointed to the Provincial Council - Bavaria Bavaria would not, without his music, his poetry, the friendliness and warmth and joyfulness that we have just experienced. Joyfulness, kindness, goodness, however, only grow if the sky above us is open.Not every day is sunny - the you said, Mr. Landrat, sometimes we go through dark valleys. But we do remain human and joyful - if the sky is open for us if we have been touched by the certainty that He loves us all, that God is good and that is good for this to be a man. Bavaria is one that has become the basis of this certainty, and we all hope and pray that it stays. So that it can stay like this forever and still be beautiful and people can keep saying yes to life, the future, it is important that we do not miss the splendor of faith that we are believers, Christians, Catholics, where a Catholic means to be always "open the world "- that is, world, life and faith together - means to be tolerant and open to each other in regard to the friendly fraternity of those who know they belong to the one Father and know they are loved by the one Lord.
This is my prayer: Let us touch the faith, let us be guided by faith to the glory of heaven can come to us and to enlighten the world in his misery, making it nice and shiny.
For my part I promise you in my prayers, my land is always present, and a sign of this now, I impart the Apostolic Blessing.
The Lord reward you! I wish you a pleasant stay in Castel Gandolfo! Greet Bavaria.
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