PASTORAL VISIT
OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO LORETO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE AGORÀ
OF ITALIAN YOUTH

VISIT TO THE SHRINE OF LORETO

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO THE CAPUCHIN FRIARS AND
THE CLOISTERED NUNS OF LORETO

Holy House of Loreto
Saturday, 1st September 2007

Dear Fathers and dear Sisters,

At this moment of recollection and prayer, I would only like to say "thank you" to you all.

I first thank the Capuchin Fathers, who help this House of Our Lady to always be truly alive, a place of prayer, conversion and joy in faith.

I know, dear Fathers, that you spend much time in the confessional and that you help many people to find Jesus, to reach conversion and move ahead on the path that Jesus shows us, to move ahead in communion with the "yes" of Our Lady, who helps us with her tenderness, kindness and generosity. I therefore thank you, dear Capuchin Fathers.

For me, as a Bavarian, the Capuchins are Fathers by definition, starting with my youth, for it was always Capuchin Fathers who came on mission and knew how to preach with strength and joy.

Dear Sisters, I also thank you. You truly form the prayerful, living house which makes this "yes" of Our Lady present here, the "yes" of her total willingness in her life for Jesus.

Thus, you demonstrate the presence of Our Lady's "yes", you practice it day after day, and I know that yours is also a life of sacrifices. It is not easy to always renew this "yes" or to place oneself daily at the Lord's disposition.

Thank you all, and thank you especially for I am sure that you pray for the Pope, who stands in need of this help of prayer.

I would now like to impart my Blessing to you all. Once again, I entrust myself to your prayers.

Thank you again. May the Lord bless you all.

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