"No idol must contaminate our spiritual universe, otherwise, instead of enjoying our acquired freedom, we would fall back into a form of humiliating slavery". It was said today by Benedict XVI in the homily, uttered "off the cuff" during the general audience in Saint Peter’s Square in front of 15,000 pilgrims. The Pope went over the biography of the Apostle Peter and his meeting with Christ on the way to Damascus. "Christ became his reason for existence", said Benedict XVI as he recalled that, in the Apostle’s letters, "after God’s name that appears over 500 times, Christ is mentioned 380 times". An important fact, according to the Pope, to realise "how much Christ can affect a man’s life and therefore our life as well". "In fact he highlighted Jesus Christ is the height of the history of salvation and therefore the real discriminating point, not least in the dialogue with the other religions". The Pope gave an interpretation of Paul’s words in his letters to the Romans and Galatians, in which he highlights the "fundamental and irreplaceable value of faith". On quoting the letter to the Galatians, he recalled that "man is not justified by the works of law, but only by his faith in Jesus Christ". "Being justified he stated means to be made just, i.e. be welcomed by God’s merciful justice and enter into communion with Him. As a consequence, being able to establish a much truer relationship with all of our brothers based on the total forgiveness of our sins". (to be continued)
