Vatican City, May 16, 2010 / 08:51 am
The Holy Father was joined by a larger than normal crowd in the Vatican for the Regina Coeli on Sunday. Thanking them for the enormous turnout in his support, he said that the Church must root herself in God to combat the "true enemy" of sin inside and outside of the Church.
Estimates in the Holy See's Press Office put the number in attendance in St. Peter's Square at more than 150,000 people, many there with Italian lay associations and holding balloons and banners with supportive messages for the Pope. A multitude of flags from other countries such as India, Poland and Brazil were also prominent in the crowd, which spilled out of the Square and down the street, called Via della Conciliazione, where big screens were set up in anticipation of such a turnout.
Pope Benedict XVI greeted the masses, saying, "Thank you! Thanks for your presence and confidence!"
He welcomed the president of the Italian bishops, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, and all those who had answered the invitation from a national association of lay groups, CNAL, which, on April 14, called for a massive show of support for the Pope and his work.