Sep 20, 2011 / 00:02 am
Pope Benedict XVI gave a rare television address in which he urged Germans to restore God to their horizon, just before he travels to the country later this week.
“I am very happy to be departing for Germany in a few days time,” said the Pope on the German religious program, “Wort zum Sontag” or “Word on Sunday.” The brief address was recorded several days ago in his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.
“I think with particular joy of Berlin where I will attend many meetings and, naturally, of my address to the Bundestag and the great Mass we will celebrate at the Olympic stadium, ” he said Sept. 18.
Pope Benedict leaves for his four-day visit to Germany this Thursday, Sept. 22. He is scheduled to give 18 sermons and speeches during the 21st foreign trip of his six-year pontificate.
“This is not religious tourism; still less is it a ‘show,’” said the Pope, getting to the heart of his visit’s purpose.