"For us Christians, God bent heaven and took us on His shoulder. Amd so the knowledge of God became a reality and a friendship with men. We thank God for He bent heaven for us". This was highlighted by Benedict XVI as he spoke off the cuff during today’s catechesis, during which he repeated the dramatic invocation of Saint Jerome “Lord, bend Your heaven and come down”, to ask for salvation in a world that still seems to be dominated "by the impious, who tell lies and commit perjury”. In addition, he specified that "especially in this day and age, when knowledge can face dangerous problems, we must not forget the fundamental knowledge that makes sense of life, the knowledge of God, the Creator". The audience in the Sala Nervi was attended by people and groups from Italy, France, Switzerland, Japan, the USA, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Poland. They included about thirty children who survived the tragedy of the school of Beslan, in Russia, the guests of the Italian Civil Defence. As well as children and adults from many different folk groups from East Europe, who from time to time sang their songs. They all interrupted the Pope on several occasions with cheers, so much that Benedict XVI thanked them at the end "for the enthusiasm and the joy of your faith". In the usual closing thought to newly-wed couples, to the sick and the young, the Pope mentioned the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, who has just closed the Christmas season: "In recalling your baptism he concluded , be ready to bear witness with joy to the faith in Christ in all circumstances, in sickness and in health, in the family, at work and everywhere".
