Vatican City, Nov 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Christ’s role King of creation was the major theme of a brief address Pope Benedict gave to throngs of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square Sunday, to pray the weekly Angelus. Yesterday was the liturgical Solemnity of Christ the King--the final Sunday in the liturgical year before the beginning of Advent.
The Holy Father told the crowd that "During His public life, Jesus inaugurated the new Kingdom which 'is not of this world,' finally realizing it in full with His death and resurrection."
"Having risen from death," the Holy Father said, "He appeared before the Apostles and said 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.' This power springs from the love which God showed totally in the sacrifice of His Son."
He added that "The Kingdom of Christ is a gift offered to men and women of all times so that everyone who believes in the Word incarnate may 'not perish but have eternal life'."