Rome, Italy, Mar 9, 2009 / 10:54 am
This morning, Benedict XVI traveled to Rome’s Town Hall, located on the city's Capitoline Hill, where he met with Mayor Gianni Alemanno and other civic leaders. In his address, the Holy Father spoke of the “social and economic challenges” the city is facing and encouraged Rome to rediscover its Christian roots.
Before Pope Benedict began his address, the mayor announced plans to build a help-center for disadvantaged youth on land donated by the city. The center will be named after Pope Benedict XVI.
Following the announcement, the Holy Father took the stage, and began by recalling the visits of his predecessors to the Town Hall: Blessed Pius IX in 1870, Paul VI in 1966 and John Paul II in 1998.
"These visits are a testament to the affection and respect Peter's Successors, pastors of the Catholic community of Rome and of the universal Church, have always nourished for Rome, the center of Latin and Christian civilization and 'hospitable mother of peoples,'" he explained.