The Pope’s "heartily-felt" greetings in Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Slovenian; many languages to address, today, the 27 new metropolitan archbishops from different countries (including 4 Italian ones) who yesterday were imposed the Pallium in the Vatican Basilica accompanied by their families, friends and the faithful, who came from their countries to stand by their bishops. "Today’s meeting said Benedict XVI is like an echo of the solemn celebration that took place yesterday". To the English-speaking archbishops, the Pope recalled the meaning of the Pallium, "the symbol of hierarchical communion with the Successor of Peter at the head of God’s people": "It is made of sheep wool he explained as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world and the Good Shepherd who keeps a watchful eye on his beloved flock. This cassock recalls to the bishops, as the vicars of Christ in their local churches, that they are called to be shepherds". To the Brazilians, the Pope said he wishes "this meaningful celebration may help strengthen unity and communion with the apostolic see and promote generous pastoral devotion in its bishops for the growth of the Church and the salvation of the souls". Then, he concluded by recalling that "all of us, according to our own calling, are required to industriously work in the vineyard".
