The fire of Christ is not destructive

The fire of Christ is not destructive, is a quiet little flame of goodness and truth that transforms
Benedict XVI at forty thousand participants in the torchlight procession in Rome

ROME, October 12, 2012 (ZENIT.org). - At 19, 30, yesterday afternoon held a torchlight procession, organized by the Italian Catholic Action, which started from the Sant'Angelo castle up to the square San Pedro. After speeches, testimonies and prayer, at 21 am, Benedict XVI, from the window of his private study, blessed the participants, about forty thousand people.
The pope said a few words to paraphrase, fifty years later, uttered by the "Good Pope", the pontiff who dared to call a council in the mid-twentieth century.
 

"50 years ago I was also in the square to look back to this window which looked Blessed Pope John XXIII and we spoke unforgettable words, words full of poetry, of kindness, words of the heart," recalled Benedict XVI.
"We were happy and we were full of enthusiasm, the great ecumenical Council was inaugurated. We were sure that was to come a new springtime of the Church, a new Pentecost, with strong new presence of the liberating grace of the Gospel. "
"Even today we are happy, joy in our hearts we say a joy but perhaps more sober, humble joy."
"In fifty years we have learned and experienced that original sin exists and translates again provided personal sins can even become sinful structures".
"We have seen that in the Lord's field weeds are growing, we have seen that in the network of Pedro's also bad fish, we have seen that human frailty is also present in the Church, that the Church's ship is sailing also contrary wind, with storms threatening the ship and sometimes we thought: the Lord sleeps and has forgotten us. "
"This is part of the experience made in these 50 years. We also had new experience of God's presence, of his goodness of his strength: the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of Christ is a consuming fire and destructive fire is a silent, is a flicker of goodness and truth transforms, gives light and heat. "
"We have seen that the Lord will not forget, even today in their way is humble, the Lord is present and warms hearts, shows life creates charisms of kindness and charity that illuminate the world and we are to guarantee the goodness of God. Yes, Christ lives!, Is also with us today and we can be happy again today because his goodness has not turned off, and is strong even today. "
"In the end I dare to borrow the words of Pope John unforgettable: Go home, give the kids a kiss and say that is the Pope. In this sense, and wholeheartedly impart my blessing. "
Benedict XVI saluted goodnight and thanked everyone, and the crowd, so happy, WHILE strongly applauded the stepped away from the window.
With information from Maria Emilia Marega