Ved messen til minne om pave Pius XII i dag holdt pave Benedikt en preken der han i stor grad snakket om Pius XII’s liv og virke. Mot slutten av prekenen tar han opp hva som skjedde under 2. verdenskrig og årene deretter: (Referatet er fra Vatican Information Service.)
How can we forget his radio message of Christmas 1942? His voice breaking with emotion, he deplored the situation of ‘the hundreds of thousands of people who, with no individual blame, are sometimes, because of their nationality or race, destined for death or progressive exploitation’, a clear allusion to the deportations and extermination being perpetrated against the Jews».
Pius XII «often acted secretly and silently because, in the real situations of that complex moment in history, he had an intuition that only in this way would he be able to avoid the worst, and to save the largest possible number of Jews».
The Pope indicated that the historical debate over the figure of Pius XII «has not thrown light on all aspects of his multifaceted pontificate». In this context he recalled the numerous messages and discourses his predecessor had given to all categories of people, «some of which are still extraordinarily relevant even today, and continue to provide a sure point of reference. Paul VI … considered him to be the precursor of Vatican Council II».
Referring then to some of Pius XII’s documents, the Holy Father recalled the Encyclicals «Mystici Corporis» of June 1943, and «Divino afflante Spiritu» of September of the same year which «established the doctrinal norms for the study of Holy Scripture, emphasising its importance and role in Christian life. It is a document that gives evidence of great openness towards scientific research into biblical texts», he said.
Benedict XVI also mentioned the Encyclical «Mediator Dei» which was published in November 1947 and concerns the liturgy. There, he said, «the Servant of God promoted the liturgical movement, highlighting the ‘essential element of worship’, which ‘must be the interior element. It is, in fact, necessary’, he wrote, ‘always to live in Christ, to dedicate oneself entirely to Him, so that in Him, with Him and for Him glory is rendered unto God».
After mentioning «the notable impulse this Pontiff gave to the Church’s missionary activity with the Encyclicals ‘Evangelii praecones’ (1951) and ‘Fidei donum’ (1957)», the Holy Father pointed out that one of Pius XII’s «constant pastoral concerns was the promotion of the laity, so that the ecclesial community could make use of all available energies and resources. For this too the Church and the world are grateful».
«As we pray that the cause of beatification of Servant of God Pius XII may continue favourably, it is as well to recall that sanctity was his ideal, an ideal he did not fail to propose to everybody».
The Pope concluded by pointing out that during the Holy Year 1950, Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin. «In this world of ours which, as then, is assailed by concerns and anguish for the future; in this world where, perhaps more now than then, the abandonment of truth and virtue by many people gives us glimpses of scenarios without hope, Pius XII invites us to turn our gaze to Mary, assumed in heavenly glory».
Following the Mass, the Holy Father went down to the Vatican Grottoes to pray before the tomb of Pius XII.