Carol Glatz: Pope Benedict this week celebrated a Rome feast day and a very personal anniversary, marking 60 years since his ordination as a priest. It all made for several days of celebration and liturgy here at the Vatican, involving church leaders and pilgrims from around the world. I’m Carol Glatz.John Thavis: And I’m John Thavis. Pope Benedict has often spoken about his priestly vocation as the guiding light of his spiritual life, the event that gave him a new identity. The pope entered a minor seminary at the young age of 12, and his formation was interrupted by World War II. When the war was over, he decided to return to his priesthood studies. The pope said his future vocation came into clearer focus after seeing the evil of the war and the Nazi regime. Carol Glatz: He was ordained at the age of 24 in Freising on June 29, 1951, along with his brother, Georg, and this week the two of them were together again in Rome for the anniversary. There was a concert for the music-loving pope, and there were a lot of gifts from well-wishers. Probably the most unusual came from a group of Italian young people, who gave the pope 60 goldfish -- one for each year of the priesthood. John Thavis: The goldfish will find a home in the Vatican gardens. In another initiative, 60 international artists -- including painters, sculptors, architects and even filmmakers -- were creating special works to mark the anniversary. They’ll come to the Vatican to exhibit their works in early July, and the pope is expected to talk with them about their artistic creations. Carol Glatz: On a more spiritual level, Catholic communities around the world joined in Eucharistic adoration for 60 hours, to pray for the sanctification of priests and for priestly vocations -- and of course, for the German pope. This was certainly a gift the pope appreciated. He spoke about the importance of the Eucharist last weekend, saying that as the sacrament of communion, it was an antidote to the rampant individualism of modern society. John Thavis: The pope called the Eucharist the heart of the church’s life, and said without it the church simply would not exist. I think behind the pope’s words was deep concern that Sunday Mass attendance has fallen off in so many Western countries, including his native Germany, where he will visit this fall. He’s often said that one important way to draw people back to weekly worship is to provide beautiful liturgies. Carol Glatz: This week saw a very special liturgy at the Vatican. The day the pope celebrated 60 years as a priest was also the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome. Each year, the pope celebrates Mass and bestows the pallium to new archbishops. This year there was one from Canada and four from the United States, including Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles. John Thavis: The pallium is a simple white stole that means a lot of things. It’s made of lamb’s wool,which recalls that a bishop is first of all a shepherd. It also symbolizes the archbishops' authority and unity with the pope. And the rite for bestowing the pallium underlines the universality of the church, called to spread the Gospel to all peoples. I’m John Thavis. 

Carol Glatz: Pope Benedict this week celebrated a Rome feast day and a very personal anniversary, marking 60 years since his ordination as a priest. It all made for several days of celebration and...leggi tutto