New book of Pope Benedict's WYD speeches unveiled

Vatican City, Oct 10, 2005 / 22:00 pm

In the Vatican press office earlier today, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, and Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, unveiled the new book: 'La Rivolzione di Dio', or 'The Revolution of God', in English. The book is a collection of Pope Benedict's 2005 World Youth Day speeches.

According to the Holy See, the volume, which is being published by the Vatican Publishing House and the St. Paul Publishing House is a collection of the Holy Father's discourses during August's World Youth Day celebration in Cologne, Germany, as well as his general audience of August 24, in which he explained the legacy of World Youth Day.

"In his addresses," Archbishop Rylko told members of the press this morning, "the Pope supplied important elements for a precise pastoral program which draws inspiration from the exemplary spiritual adventure of the Magi. It is a program constructed around three key words: seek, find and adore Christ, the Redeemer of mankind."

"For this reason," he said, "the book we are presenting is not a 'souvenir volume.' ... It is, above all, a manual, a guide to be frequently consulted in search of precious stimuli to consolidate one's faith and learn how to announce Christ in the world today."

Cardinal Ruini, who wrote the book's introduction stressed that "this book is, above all, one of prayer, just as prayer and adoration of the Eucharistic Christ were the dominant themes of 20th World Youth Day. From this book, as from that Day, what shines forth is joy for the beauty of faith, and for the beauty of Christ and of life in Christ."