"The mission is not only for the twelve Apostles, but it is extended to other disciples too". It was said yesterday by Benedict XVI before he opened the Angelus prayer from Saint Peter’s Square, quoting the passage of Luke’s Gospel, in which Jesus "sends seventy-two disciples to the villages where he is about to go, so that they can prepare the ambience". But "Christ highlighted the Pope would not just send them: He also gave the missionaries clear and accurate rules of conduct". "Let this Gospel he added reawaken in all the baptised people the awareness of being Christ’s missionaries, called to pave Him the road with the words and the testimony of life". Then, the Holy Father mentioned that today he is leaving for Lorenzago di Cadore, the guest of the bishop of Treviso in the same house that hosted the venerable John Paul II. "The air of the mountains he stated will do me good, and I will be able to devote myself more freely to reflection and prayer". Hence his wish, "especially to those who feel they really need it, to take some holidays and reinvigorate their body and spirit and recover a healthy contact with nature". (continued)
