DAY OF REFLECTION, DIALOGUE AND PRAYER
FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE WORLD
"PILGRIMS OF TRUTH, PILGRIMS OF PEACE"

FAREWELL ADDRESS BY HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Assisi, San Francesco Square
Thursday, 27 October 2011

[Video]

Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,

At the conclusion of this intense day, I wish to thank all of you. Deep gratitude goes to those who have made possible today’s meeting. We especially thank those who hosted us: the city of Assisi, the community of this Diocese with its Bishop and the sons of St Francis, who guard the precious spiritual legacy of the Poverello of Assisi. I would like to also thank the many young people who have made the pilgrimage on foot from Santa Maria degli Angeli to testify that, among the new generations, there are many who work to overcome violence and division, and to be promoters of justice and peace.

Today’s event is an image of how the spiritual dimension is a key element in the building of peace. Through this unique pilgrimage we have been able to engage in fraternal dialogue, to deepen our friendship, and to come together in silence and prayer.

After renewing our commitment to peace and exchanging with one another a sign of peace, we feel even more profoundly involved, together with all the men and women from the communities that we represent, in our common human journey.

We are not being separated; we will continue to meet, we will continue to be united in this journey, in dialogue, in the daily building of peace and in our commitment to a better world, a world in which every man and woman and every people can live in accordance with their own legitimate aspirations.

From my heart I thank all of you here present for having accepted my invitation to come to Assisi as pilgrims of truth and peace and I greet each one of you in Saint Francis’ own words: May the Lord grant you peace – “il Signore ti dia pace”.

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