UT UNUM SINT
The following is the English translation of the
greeting by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, addressed
to Benedict XVI in the Clementine Hall on last Thursday afternoon
“With great
trepidation the Cardinal Fathers present in Rome today cling to you in order to
demonstrate to you yet again their deep affection and to express their profound
gratitude for your witness of self-sacrificing Apostolic service for the good
of the Church of Christ and all of humanity.
Last Saturday at
the end of the Spiritual Exercises in the Vatican, you desired to thank the
Cardinals and your collaborators of the Roman Curia recalling these moving
words: “Dear friends”, you called us, “I would like to thank all
of you, and not only for this week, but for the past eight years during which
you have carried with me – and with great competence, affection love and faith
– the burden of the Petrine ministry”. You also addressed similar and
moving words to the people and your collaborators yesterday in St Peter's
Square.
Beloved and
venerable Successor of Peter, we are the ones who should thank you for the
example you gave us in these eight years of your Pontificate. On 19 April 2005
you were added to a long list of the Successors of the the Apostle Peter and
today, 28 February 2013, you are preparing to leave, awaiting that the helm of
the barque of Peter pass to other hands. Thus continues the Apostolic
succession which the Lord promised to his Holy Church, until we hear the voice
of the Angel of the Apocalypse on earth, proclaiming:
“Tempus non erit
amplius... consummabitur mysterium Dei” (Rev 10:6-7) “there
shall be no more delay... the mystery of God..should be fulfilled”. Thus
ends the history of the Church together with the history of the world, with the
advent of a new heaven and a new earth.
Holy Father, with
deep love we have sought to accompany you on your journey, reliving the
experience of the disciples of Emmaus, who after walking with Jesus for a time
on the road, said to each another: “Did not our hearts burn within us while
he talked to us on the road?” (Lk 24:32).
Truly, Holy Father,
you must know that our hearts burned when we walked with you in these eight
years. Today we want to express once more all of our gratefulness.
Together we repeat
the traditional expression of your dear homeland: "Vergelt's Gott".
May God reward you!”
Source: Osservatore Romano
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