Benedict XVI during the
Sunday Angelus remembered “the moving sacrifice of the life” of Pakistani
Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, killed on Wednesday in front of his residence
by armed gunmen (See Jibran Khan, “Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistani
minister who defended Asia Bibi, is assassinated,” in AsiaNews,
2 march 2011).
Following the commentary on the Gospel of the day,
Benedict XVI said he was “continuously following with great apprehension
the tensions” developing these days in some countries of Asia and
Africa.
Speaking about the murder of the Catholic leader, he said, “I
call on Lord Jesus that the moving sacrifice of the life of Pakistani
Minister Shahbaz Bhatti may rekindle in people the courage and
commitment to protect religious freedom for all mankind and in this way
also promote equal dignity for all.”
The Pontiff also turned his thoughts to events on the
southern shores of the Mediterranean.
“My heartsick thoughts go to
Libya, where recent clashes have caused many deaths and a growing
humanitarian crisis. To all the victims and those who find themselves in
anxious situations, I assure my prayer and closeness, as I call for
assistance and rescue for the people affected.”
In commenting the Evangelical text, Benedict XVI urged
everyone “to build our life”, not on sand, but “on a solid basis”.
Only
the love for Christ constitutes the real rock on which we can build our
existence, not power, money or success.
“Often though, man does not
build his action and existence on this identity, but prefers instead the
sands of power, success and money, thinking that he can find stability
and meet the irrepressible desire for happiness and completeness that he
carries in his soul.”
“On what do we want to build our life?” asked the
Pope. “Who can actually meet the anxiety of the human heart? Christ is
the rock of our life! He is the eternal and definitive Word, which makes
us not fear adversity, difficulty or hardship.”
Benedict also warned against doing things for their
own sake, without any thought for spiritual sustenance.
“Dear brothers,”
he said, “I urge you to provide some space for the Word of God, to feed
and meditate on it continuously. It is a precious form of help to
protect yourself against the superficial activism that can satisfy your
pride for a time, but which in the end leaves you empty and
unsatisfied.”