Vatican City, Nov 24, 2010 / 13:48 pm
Pope Benedict focused today on the life of St. Catherine of Siena, saying that although the 14th century mystic was “aware of the human failings of the clergy,” she had the “greatest reverence” for them.
The Pope gave his Wednesday general audience talk in the presence of 7,000 people at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on Nov. 24.
He opened his discussion on St. Catherine of Siena by recalling how the Italian saint joined a Dominican community at the age of 16, dedicating herself to a life of prayer, penance and working with the poor.
"As fame of her sanctity spread," the Pope explained, "she became intensely active in the spiritual counseling of many,” including “nobles, politicians, artists, common people, consecrated persons, ecclesiastics ... ”