"It is raining a little bit but we’re strong, aren’t we?". "I’m sorry about you, for this rain, but water is also a sign of the Holy Spirit": before saying Angelus from Castelgandolfo, yesterday morning the Pope encouraged the faithful to withstand the rain which was growing heavier and heavier. Then, the Pope recalled how his apostolic journey to Bavaria (9-14 September) has been for him "a powerful spiritual experience" where "personal memories" intertwined with "pastoral prospects for an effective announcement of the Gospel in our day and age". "I am deeply sorry said Benedict XVI for the reactions aroused by a short passage of my speech at Regensburg University, which was deemed offensive for the sensitivity of the Muslim believers, while it was just a quotation from a medieval text which by no means reflects my personal beliefs". As he also mentioned the statement made on September 16th by the Secretary of State, card. Tarcisio Bertone, "in which he explained the real meaning of my words", the Pope expressed the wish that "may this appease people’s feelings and shed light on the true meaning of my speech, which in its entirety was and is an invitation to honest and sincere dialogue with great mutual respect".
