Pope Benedict explains prayer highest priority

He truly is the Vicar of Jesus Christ.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804135.htm

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Pope says his most important task is to pray for church, world
By Catholic News Service

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said praying for the church and the world is his most important task as pope.

"By praying I place in the hands of the Lord the ministry he himself has entrusted me with and the fate of the entire church and civil community," the pope said Aug. 13 as he held an abbreviated general audience at his summer residence south of Rome.

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Throughout the two-week vacation, he said, he prayed for those who had asked for his prayers.

"Truly, many people write asking me to pray for them. They share their joys, but also their worries; the plans for their lives, but also the problems of their families and their work; the expectations and hopes that they carry in their hearts together with the distress connected with the uncertainties which humanity is experiencing at this moment," the pope said. Pope Benedict said that especially during his daily Mass and recitation of the rosary, he prays for each person who writes to him.

"I know well that the first service I can render to the church and to humanity is precisely that of prayer," he said.

Pope Benedict said the Bible and the example of the saints demonstrate that "one who prays never loses hope, even when he finds himself in difficult or even humanly desperate situations."

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St. Maximilian Kolbe's last words were reported to be the beginning of the Hail Mary, he said.

"It is moving to note that the humble and trusting recourse to the Blessed Mother is always a source of courage and serenity," he said.

As the church prepared to celebrate the Aug. 15 feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the pope told his visitors, "Let us renew our trust in the one who, from heaven, watches over us with maternal love at every moment."

The Pope radiates the love of Jesus Christ

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-youth-day/pope-warns-against-the-lure-of-false-idols/2008/07/17/1216163059279.html?page=2

Alejandro de la Roca of Guatemala, representing Latin American pilgrims, said: "I spoke in Spanish. I said thank you for believing in the youth of Latin America because we love him very much and he has supported us. He said he knew where Guatemala was and blessed all our young people.

"You just feel the Holy Spirit is with him, that he is no ordinary person. When you touch him it's like your heart is burning."

As the vessel made its way up the harbour the Pope was joined by 16 pilgrims, who waved to the foreshore crowds.

The boat was shadowed by seven police vessels and at times up to eight helicopters. In its wake was a flotilla of at least a dozen boats of cheering pilgrims, festooned with banners and national flags. The crowds were at their thickest at Circular Quay and the Opera House, where people lined the Cahill Expressway and Overseas Passenger Terminal and balconies for a glimpse of the Pope's distant white figure. At Circular Quay ferries sounded their horns and the papal vessel responded. Water canon greeted the boat as it turned into Cockle Bay.

At the Hungry Mile, the Pope passed a guard of honour of Aboriginal elders, some of whom broke down in tears and openly wept. Chants went up from waiting pilgrims: "We love Papa and we are the people."