CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 900TH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE PASCHAL II’S BULL

POPE BENEDICT ADDRESSES THE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER: ‘YOUR VALUABLE WORK IS A LIVING TESTIMONY TO THE GOSPEL’

Rome, 09/02/2013
The culminating moment at the end of the solemn Mass in St.Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by the Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone for the 900th anniversary since the granting of the Bull by Pope Paschal II (15 February 2013), was the address by Pope Benedict XVI to the packed congregation. Over 4500 members and volunteers of the Order from all over the world joined in celebration, led by the Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing. Also present were the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, representing the President of the Republic of Italy, together with the heads of state of the Principality of Monaco, Morocco and Jordan, the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Michel Bernier, and many civic authorities, 170 ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, and a delegation from the Order of St. John.