At an audience on November 28, Pope Francis thanked the organizers
and volunteers who had helped to prepare for events at the Vatican
during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
“All of you, in different ways, have made it possible for this event
of grace to be celebrated in an orderly and safe manner, with a great
flow of pilgrims,” the Pontiff said.
He remarked that in the course of
the Jubilee, “something truly extraordinary happened.”
Pope Francis offered special thanks to Archbishop Rino Fisichella,
who as president of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization was
given responsibility for coordinating Jubilee events in Rome.
He also
thanked the Swiss Guard, the Roman and Vatican police forces, the civil
authorities of the city, and the joint commission of Vatican and Italian
officials who had coordinated plans for the year.