Whiffs of Frankincense... and Cologne

Happy (Universal) Epiphany to all!

As photographed at this morning's liturgy in St. Peter's, Pope Benedict is still wearing Cardinal Ratzinger's favorite mitre and chasuble....

The Angelus reflection was notable for its references to the Julian Calendar and the Orthodox observance of Christmas today (yet another epiphany of the Benedictine affection for the churches of the East), and the Pope's continued memories of last August's World Youth Day in Cologne, which took the Magi as its theme....

The translation is a Whispers exclusive, provided by one of our great ops in the field.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

My thoughts turn in a special way to the beloved brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who, following the Julian Calendar, celebrate today the Holy Nativity: to them I offer cordial greetings of peace and of the goodness of the Lord.

There comes to mind spontaneously today the memory of World Youth Day. This past August there was a gathering in Cologne of over a million young people, who took as their motto the words of the Magi referring to Jesus: “We have come to worship him (Matthew 2:2). How many times we have heard and repeated those words! Now we are not able to hear them without returning spiritually to that memorable event, that represented an authentic “epiphany”. In fact, the pilgrimage of youth, in its most profound dimension, can be seen as a journey guided by the light of a “star,” of the light of faith. And today I’d like to extend to the whole Church the message I proposed then to the young people gathered along Rhine: “Open wide your hearts to God – I said to them and I say it again to day to everyone – Let yourselves be surprised by Christ! Open the doors of your freedom to his merciful love! Share your joys and pains with Christ, and let him enlighten your minds with his light and touch your hearts with his grace” (Address of August 18, 2005).

Would that in the whole Church there might flourish, as at Cologne, the atmosphere of “epiphany” and of an authentic missionary commitment rising from Christ the light of the world, sent from God the Father to reconcile and unite humanity by the power of love. In this spirit let us pray fervently for the full unity of all Christians, so that their witness may become a “ferment of communion” for the whole world.

PHOTO: AP/Andrew Medichini

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