"As the first stop of my pilgrimage to Mariazell, I chose the Mariensäule, to reflect a bit, with you, about the meaning of God’s Mother for the Austria of the past and the present, as well as on its meaning for each of us": these are the words with which Pope Benedict XVI opened his speech in Vienna, in piazza Am Hof, in front of the bronze column dedicated to the Virgin and known as the "Mariensäule". "Erected by Emperor Ferdinand III to thank the Virgin for sparing Vienna from a big danger and unveiled by him exactly 360 years ago – went on the Pope , it must be a sign of hope for us as well today. Since then, how many people have stopped at this column, and, praying, have raised their eyes to Mary!" In ending his greeting, Benedict XVI then added: "If we keep bringing our daily worries in front of the Immaculate Mother of Christ, She will help us always open our small hopes to the great, true hope that gives sense to our life and can fill us with deep and enduring joy".
