VATICAN CITY (CNS): Although billed as his weekly general audience, Pope Benedict XVI’s August 2 appointment in St Peter’s Square was mainly an audience for 42,000 European altar servers.
And, in fact, there was a special focus on the 35,000 altar boys and altar girls from Germany.
The Pope explained to the altar servers that he was in the midst of a series of audience talks about the 12 apostles.
Pope Benedict told the young people that Jesus also calls them his friends and wants to transform them into courageous witnesses of the Gospel.
The Pope asked them to listen to Jesus’ voice and to be open to his call, particularly if he is calling them to “give yourself without reservation” in the priesthood.
