Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Freiburg.
After visiting the Cathedral, and reciting the Angelus, the Pope greeted the people of the city in the Cathedral square.
He told them he had come to Freiburg “in order to pray together with you, to proclaim the word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.”
Full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks to the citizens of Freiburg
Dear Friends,
With great joy I greet you all and I thank you for your kind welcome. After the wonderful meetings that took place in Berlin and Erfurt, I am happy now to be here in Freiburg with you.
A special word of thanks goes to Archbishop Robert Zollitsch for his invitation and his gracious words of welcome.
“Where God is, there is a future”, as the motto of this Pastoral Visit reminds us.
As the Successor of Saint Peter, who was commissioned by the Lord to strengthen his brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), I too have come willingly to you, in order to pray together with you, to proclaim the word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.
I ask for your prayers, that these days will be fruitful, that God will deepen our faith, strengthen our hope and increase our love.
During these days, may we become aware once more how much God loves us and how good he is, so that we may trustingly place ourselves and all our cares and concerns into his hands.
In him our future is assured: he gives meaning to our lives and can bring them to fulfilment.
May the Lord accompany you in peace and make you messengers of joy!