” “Saint John Chrysostom as an example for city governors. It was given by Benedict XVI today during the Wednesday audience to the over 20 thousand pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.” “In speaking about the bishop of Constantinople, defined as "one of the fathers of the social doctrine of the Church", the Pope mentioned "the austerity of his bishop’s apparatus" who "had to be an example for everyone the clergy, the widows, the monks, the people in the court and the wealthy ones", and his zeal "for the poor". As a careful administrator, he had managed to set up successful charitable institution. In particular, he was always sweet when he spoke to women and took special care of marriage and the family". Saint John Chrysostom, said the Pontiff, "offers a new ideal of the city, inspired by the model of the primitive Church, developing a social ‘utopia’ (a sort of "ideal city"). It meant giving a Christian face and soul to the city, by tackling the main aspects of its life, especially the relations between the rich and the poor, according to an unusual, heart-felt solidarity". In addition, he held with Paul the primacy as the Christian man, even enslaved, poor, but redeemed, against the Greek polis (the city) in which large strata of the population had no right of citizenship and where one’s homeland was considered more precious than one’s mother or father". ” “
