August 5, 2009. I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially the pilgrimage groups from England, China, Korea and the United States of America.

Yesterday the Church celebrated the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who is the patron saint of parish priests. In this Year for Priests, let us pray that through his intercession all priests will be renewed in love of the Lord, in the joyful pursuit of holiness and in generous commitment to the spread of the Gospel. Upon you and your families I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!