December 28, 2012. (Romereports.com) Benedict XVI kicked off the month of July inviting people to take God with them on vacation. It was his last Angelus before retiring to his summer home in Castel Gandolfo.
BENEDICT XVI“In today’s Gospel, Jesus restores life to a little girl in response to the faith-filled prayer of her father. In this miracle may we see an invitation to grow in our own faith.”The Pope retired to his summer home in Castel Gandolfo, approximately 25 miles from Rome. He postponed all public appearances for several weeks, except for the Angelus on Sundays.
Before leaving, the Pope sent a letter of support to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, amid rumors he would be replaced as Secretary of State. In the letter, Benedict XVI thanked him for his work and dismissed the “baseless criticisms” against Bertone as a result of the 'Vatileaks' scandal and the publication of confidential papal documents.
While at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope had a front row seat for a concert by Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. It is made up of youth from Israel and Palestine.
Benedict XVI“You can imagine how proud I am to receive an orchestra like this, born of the conviction, moreover, from experience, that music unites people beyond divisions.”Benedict XVI used his vacation to finish the latest book in his trilogy 'Jesus of Nazareth.' He also used that time to start working on an encyclical letter for the Year of Faith.
OFL @odelafu /RCA
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GdP
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