Vatican City, Jan 15, 2006 / 22:00 pm
This weekend, Pope Benedict XVI met with members of the General Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican, which oversees police and security in St. Peter’s Square. He praised the group for their work during the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II and for their “spirit of sacrifice,” which can be an example to the world.
The meeting is an annual tradition for the Pope, who met with the group at St. Peter’s on Saturday.
The Holy Father told the inspectorate that safety and order "require technical and professional training, coupled with no small amount of patience, constant vigilance and a spirit of sacrifice."
He then commended "the great efforts" made by the Inspectorate and other members of the Italian armed forces during the period of the illness, death and funeral of John Paul II, "and on the occasion of my own election to the See of Peter.