The traditional practice of embracing the image of the Saint symbolizes our embrace of the Gospel which he preached and he mission which we receive in Baptism to bear daily witness to Christ and to strengthen society by our fidelity to the wisdom and truth of the Gospel. On Sunday, in Barcelona, I dedicated the Church of the Sagrada Familia, the masterpiece of the great architect Antoni Gaudí. 

In this magnificent edifice Gaudí wished to celebrate the eternal source of all beauty, made flesh in Jesus Christ, who calls humanity to become, in the Church, a temple in which God dwells. Tel us pray for all families, that they may fulfill their unique role in society, and for all the people of Spain and Europe, that they may always find in their Christian roots the inspiration to pursue, along the pathways of our time, the historic mission of the Continent in today's world.

I Offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking visitors present today's Audience, especially those from England, Denmark, Japan and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I invoke Almighty God's blessings of joy and peace."