Pope Benedict XVI led the bishops of Italy in the Rosary, and
entrusted the nation to the care of the Virgin Mary, during a May 26
ceremony in the Roman basilica of St. Mary Major.
The Pope joined the Italian bishops—who are meeting in their general
assembly—in praying the Luminous Mysteries.
At the conclusion of the
prayer, the Holy Father spoke about the future of Italy, and prayed that
“the example of Mary might open the path to a more just, mature, and
responsible society, capable of rediscovering the profound values of the
human heart.”
In his short address, the Pope said that Italy, which is celebrating the
150th anniversary of its unification, “has reason to be proud of the
presence and outreach of the Church.”
He stressed that the Catholic
Church seeks no special privileges from the state, but asks only to be
allowed to pursue her own mission. That mission, the Pope
continued, includes “the duty to promote and protect human life in all
its stages and to concretely support the family."
More generally, he
said, the Church promotes her social teachings, “so that those who
exercise political and administrative responsibilities do not fall
victim to the temptation to exploit their positions for personal
interest or the thirst for power.”