Vatican City, Jan 3, 2006 / 22:00 pm
In his first general audience for 2006, held today at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI used the words of St. Paul to show that human history must progress toward a concrete goal: one that is grounded in Christ, the Savior.
The theme for Wednesday’s catechesis was the Christological hymn found in St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians, which expounds on Christ as the firstborn of creation, and “He who resuscitates the dead".
The Pope began saying that "the text begins with an ample formula of thanks. This helps us to create a spiritual atmosphere to live these first days of 2006 well, along with our path during the entire new year".
He said that in the hymn, praise rises to "God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ", whom the Pope called the source of salvation.