” “"All the psychological interpretations cannot explain and solve the problem of the interpretation of Saint Paul’s conversion". This was said by the Pope, during today’s general audience in Aula Paolo VI, which was attended by about eight thousand people. "Saint Paul explained Benedict XVI about the conversion of the apostle on the way to Damascus, which today’s audience was entirely focussed on never points at this event as at a conversion". It is, instead, "a turning point, a transformation, not the fruit of a psychological process. It did not come from inside him, but from the outside; it was not the fruit of his maturation, but the encounter with Jesus, an event that transformed him". In other words, according to the Pope, Saint Paul "died and resurrected with Christ. The conversion was a genuine renewal, which changed all his criteria. Now Paul can say that the earlier things are ‘garbage’, were not a ‘gain’ but a ‘loss’, because living with Christ is all that matters". On the strength of Paul’s message and testimony, Benedict XVI ended the catechesis of today’s general audience, praying for "a lively faith, an open heart, the great charity for everyone that renews the world".” “
