Love in the human heart is the force that renews the world, says the Pope

Vatican City, Nov 4, 2007 / 11:02 am

While presiding over the Angelus prayer this Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that love, acting in the human heart, is the force that renews the world.

The Pontiff commented that the Gospel, the passage of Zacchaeus, reminds us that Jesus called him from the tree saying: “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." (Lk 19:5).

"What a message in that simple phrase,” exclaimed the Holy Father.  "Jesus calls on his behalf to a man despised by all.  Today, yes, right now is for him the moment of the salvation”.

He continued, because of the Father, rich in mercy, Jesus wants to ‘seek and to save what was lost’; the Pope explained.  “Once again the Gospel says to us that the love, from the heart of God and operating through the heart of the man, is the force that renews the world”.

Pope Benedict XVI then recalled the memory of the great Italian saint, whose feast we remember today, Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, whom he described as an untiring reformer who "put into practice the Council of Trent", and that led six provincial synods and eleven dioceses; he founded seminaries to train a new generation of priests; he constructed hospitals and he defended the rights of the Church against the powerful"

"His motto – he added - consisted of a single word ` Humilitas'. The humility led him to the Lord Jesus, to resign himself to become servant of all”.

Finally, the Pope remembered “my venerated predecessor John Paul II, who took with devotion the name (Karol, Carlos)” and entrusted to him “all the bishops of the world for whom we invoke as always the heavenly protection Holy Mary, Mother of the Church.”