” “SIR – 16/01/2008 Saint Augustine is "a man of our days, a friend, a contemporary, who, through his writings, speaks with his faith, which is fresh and relevant in our time as well". This is the Pope’s "opinion" of the Bishop of Hippo, the focus of today’s catechesis as well as of the catechesis of last Wednesday. It was expressed, off the cuff, by Benedict XVI at the end of the catechesis, when he called Saint Augustine a witness of the "permanent relevance" of faith, "a faith that comes from Christ, from the Word of the God made flesh, from the Son of God who lives with us". "This faith added the Holy Father, also off the cuff does not belong to the past, even if it was preached in the past, but belongs to the present", because "really Christ, yesterday, today and forever, is the way, the truth, the life". Saint Augustine, therefore, according to the Pope, "encourages us to entrust ourselves to the Christ who is forever alive, so as to find the way of life". The catechesis of the general audience was greeted by about 5 thousand devotees with a big, friendly and long applause, as well as songs, choirs, greetings and applause have burst out throughout the audience, since Benedict XVI’s entrance into Aula Paolo VI.” “
