Cindy Wooden: Pope Benedict spent last weekend in Spain, where he was welcomed by jubilant crowds in two different cities. His goal was to bolster people’s faith in God and persuade an increasingly secular society that the Church wants dialogue, not confrontation. This is the Vatican Report; I’m Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service.CG: And I’m Carol Glatz. The Pope’s visit to Spain began with a stop in the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela -- one of Catholicism's most popular and ancient pilgrimage sites. According to tradition, the remains of St. James the Greater are buried in the 12th-century cathedral and thousands of pilgrims each year walk the Way of St. James to pay homage to the apostle. This year was a holy year for the cathedral, which is one reason why the Pope wanted to make the trip.CW: The Pope has said he considers himself to be a pilgrim -- journeying in search of truth and conversion. In fact, his papal coat of arms features the symbol of the Camino, or pilgrimage, of Santiago: a scalloped shell. Carol, you were with the Pope in Spain, how did he give the trip the flavor of a pilgrimage?CG: First, he took part in some of the traditional pilgrim rituals such as kneeling in prayer in the small crypt housing the apostle's tomb, walking through the holy door and admiring the immense stone and silver-plated statue of St. James that most pilgrims embrace. The Pope also lit a large silver incense burner, called a "botafumeiro". But the Pope’s homilies and speeches also hit hard at a central theme of his pontificate: the importance of preserving Europe’s Christian character, not as a cultural icon, but as the source of values essential for a dignified life and peaceful coexistence.CW: During a Mass in front of the Santiago cathedral, the Pope warned that when a country no longer focuses on serving its citizens, there is a real danger of arrogance and exploitation gaining ground. When a society no longer upholds core values, human dignity is threatened and “the weakest and poorest” in the world can be marginalized or left to die. He said by loving and serving others like Jesus did, humanity will regain a sense of happiness and hope.CG: The Pope then went on to Barcelona, where he dedicated the still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia. This monumental church, with its treelike columns and 200-foot-high vaulted ceilings, was begun in 1882 and is expected to be finished by 2026. Its main architect was Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan Catholic whose beatification cause is underway. Pope Benedict blessed and anointed the altar which is an immense block of stone quarried from Iran.CW: In his homily, he said Christians must resist every attack on human life and promote the natural institution of the family. The Church in Spain has been highly critical of the government of Prime Minister Zapatero for relaxing divorce laws, easing restrictions on abortion, legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing gay couples to adopt.CG: In fact, the Pope praised the technical, social and cultural progress the nation has been making.However, he said, a country must also advance morally and ethically. I’m Carol Glatz.CW: And I’m Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

Cindy Wooden: Pope Benedict spent last weekend in Spain, where he was welcomed by jubilant crowds in two different cities. His goal was to bolster people’s faith in God and persuade an increasingly...leggi tutto