Return to Rome

Posted by Tom McFeely

Wednesday, October 01, 2008 6:56 AM

Pope Benedict XVI today at St. Peter's Square. (CNS/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI held his weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Square in Rome for the first time since July.

The Pope returned this week to the Vatican from his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome.

In his weekly catechesis delivered at today’s general audience at St. Peter’s, the Holy Father continued his discussion of the words and actions of St. Paul.

Benedict discussed St. Paul’s argument at the Council of Jerusalem: that Gentiles who converted to Christianity should not be required to conform to the obligations of Jewish Mosaic law.

The Pope noted how the Council’s decision to support Paul was tied to the collection of alms from Gentiles and the distribution by the early Church of those funds to the support of the poor.

Said the Pope, “By endorsing Paul’s collections among the Gentiles, the Council thus set its teaching on Christian freedom within the context of the Church’s communion in charity.”

— Tom McFeely

Filed under benedict xvi, general audience, st. paul