Sunday will be a moment of prayer not demonstration, Card. Ruini says

Vatican City, Jan 17, 2008 / 16:47 pm

The convocation of Catholic Romans to attend next Sunday's Angelus at St. Peter's square in support of Pope Benedict will be a moment of prayer, not a demonstration, Cardinal Camillo Ruini said on Thursday.

Cardinal Ruini, the Pope's Vicar to the City of Rome, called on all Catholics in
Rome to join Pope Benedict at the Angelus prayers this Sunday to show their support in the wake of his suspended speech at the La Sapienza University, following threats of violent demonstrations.

"Next Sunday's event will be a moment of prayer, any other motivation in the people joining us at St. Peter's Square would be unwelcome and out of place," Cardinal Ruini told the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano.

The Cardinal explained that "because of its prayerful nature, the Angelus cannot be turned into a political demonstration."

"This will be a moment to show affection for the Holy Father and not a demonstration against the lack of receptivity from La Sapienza. It is an event that want to express the feelings of the majority of Romans, as well as the majority of the La Sapienza community," Cardinal Ruini added.

The gathering at St. Peter's square next Sunday, therefore, "must be in tune with the classic tone of the Angelus, which is a moment to listen to God's word and also a moment to listen to the Holy Father, to be with him, to greet him."

"If anyone gives another reading or interpretation of the event, they will be interpreting it in a completely wrong way," the Cardinal warned.

He also announced that a large number of university students, as well as personalities from the academic world have confirmed that they wish to attend the Angelus.

"The prayerful, serene and joyful nature of encounter will serve as a contrast to the boastful, noisy minority that celebrated the cancellation of the Pope's visit," he concluded.