On Sunday, December 16, Pope Benedict XVI made a visit to the Roman parish of Santa Maria del Rosario ai Maritiri Portuensi, celebrating Mass and consecrating a new parish church. In his homily, the Holy Father took note of the fact that the parish is located near the catacombs where several young Christian martyrs are buried.
The sacrifice of those martyrs, he said, should be a spur to the parish today. The Scripture readings of the Advent season, the Pope said, remind the faithful "how we must abandon sadness and discouragement ... because the Lord is near. The challenge for Christians, today and in every era, is "to give reasons for their hope, to offer the world the testimony of the Truth of the One Who saves and redeems," he said.
After his morning trip - the 5th parish visit of his pontificate - the Pontiff returned to the Vatican in time for his midday Angelus audience.
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