Malta celebrated Pope Benedict XVI's election anniversary with a concelebrated Mass presided by Archbishop Mgr. Joseph Mercieca and Archbishop Mgr. Felix del Blanco di Prieto, Apostolic Nuncio on Saturday evening at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.
Archbishop Joseph Mercieca started his homily by thanking God for Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate. He delineated the Pope's first encyclical God is Love as one of the highlights of the year. The encyclical aims to define the ambiguity of the word 'love'. In fact His Holiness showed both the difference as well as the bond between the concepts of 'eros' and 'agape'.
"Taking a Christian vision, these two concepts are not contrary to each other but meet in a harmonious way to offer a realistic definition of human love, one that involves both soul and body. The 'agape' does not allow the 'eros' abandon itself to instinct while the 'eros' offers the 'agape' a fundamental and vital relation for human existence," Archbishop Mercieca said.
The encyclical also highlights the insolubility of marriage between man and woman.
Mgr Mercieca said that during the 25th March Eucharistic celebration in which new Cardinals were elected, Pope Benedict XVI advised that only love lasts for eternity. His Holiness in fact invited all Christians to act charitably towards others.
See also:
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates first pontificate anniversary
By MaltaMedia News - Apr 19, 2006, 16:45 CET
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