VATICAN CITY, 25 SEP 2011
(VIS) - Today at 6 p.m. the Pope travelled fifty kilometres by car from the city
of Freiburg im Breisgau to Lahr airport for his return flight to Italy. The
departure ceremony was attended by German President Christian Wulff, to whom the
Pope again expressed his thanks, as well as by various German bishops,
representatives of the civil authorities and large numbers of
faithful.
"Before leaving
Germany, I would like very much to thank you for these days, so moving and
eventful, spent in my native land", said the Holy Father, who then went on to
recall the most important moments of his apostolic visit.
"In Berlin ", he said,
"I had the particular opportunity of addressing the members of the Bundestag and
presenting some reflections on the intellectual foundations of the State. I also
readily think of the fruitful conversations which I had with the Federal
President and the Federal Chancellor about the present state of the German
people and the international community. I was particularly touched by the
cordial welcome and enthusiasm shown by so many people in Berlin
.
"Here in the land of
the Reformation", he added, "Christian unity was naturally a high point of my
journey. I would mention in particular my meeting with representatives of the
Lutheran Church in Germany , which took place in the former Augustinian convent
of Erfurt . I am profoundly grateful for our fraternal exchange and common
prayer. Significant too were my meetings with Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox
Christians, as well with Jews and Muslims.
"Of course my visit was
particularly aimed at the Catholic communities in Berlin , Erfurt , Eichsfeld
and Freiburg . I gladly recall our ... common listening to the word of God and
our union in prayer - especially in those parts of the country where efforts
were made for decades to remove religion from people's lives. This gives me
confidence for the future of Christianity in Germany . As in previous visits, it
was clear how many people here are bearing witness to their faith and making its
transforming power present in today's world.
"Last but not least,
after the impressive celebration of World Youth Day in Madrid , I was also
delighted to be in the presence of large numbers of young people in Freiburg at
yesterday's youth vigil. I encourage the Church in Germany to pursue with
resolute confidence the path of faith which leads people back to their roots, to
the heart of the Good News of Christ. It will be small communities of believers
- and these already exist - whose enthusiasm spreads within a pluralistic
society and makes others curious to seek the light which gives life in
abundance. ... 'Where God is, there is a future.' Wherever God is present, there
is hope: new and often unexpected horizons open up beyond the present and the
ephemeral. In this sense I accompany in my thoughts and prayers the path of the
Church in Germany ".
Following the departure
ceremony, at 7.15 p.m. the Holy Father boarded his plane to return to Rome . His
flight landed at Fiumicino airport in Rome at 8.45 p.m., whence he travelled by
car to the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo.
PV-GERMANY/
VIS 20110926 (540)
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