Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of July 14, 2008
Papal audiences to focus on Paul
By CAROL GLATZ
Catholic News Service
Vatican City
To learn about Christ and how to live the right way, today's Christians should look to St. Paul, Pope Benedict said July 2.
St. Paul the Apostle represents a "sublime and almost inimitable figure" who serves as an example because of his "total dedication to the Lord and his Church, as well as his great openness to humanity and its cultures," the pope said.
Pope Benedict was speaking at his first audience after the June 28 opening of the Pauline year and his last weekly general audience before his summer break.
The pope said the catechesis would be the first of a series dedicated to learning more about this "stimulating figure."
Pope Benedict said that it is necessary to learn more about the cultural and historical context in which St. Paul lived in order to understand better his life and work.
"This is the aim of the Pauline year: to learn about St. Paul, to learn the faith, to learn about Christ, to learn the path of the righteous life," he said.
St. Paul's teachings had a universal focus, the pope said.
The apostle tried to overcome the distinctions between Jews, gentiles, slaves and free men and women, by teaching "all of you are one in Jesus Christ," the pope said.
The weekly general audiences are scheduled to resume Aug. 13.
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