Pope Benedict XVI's General Audience on Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Psalm 110, says Pope Benedict, tells us : “Yes, there is much evil in the world, there is an ongoing battle between good and evil and evil seems to be stronger. No! The Lord, our true King and Priest, Christ, is stronger because he fights with the power of God and despite all those things which make us doubt a positive outcome for history, Christ wins and good wins, love wins, not hatred”.

Reflecting on this particularly important messianic text in Church tradition, the Holy Father concluded his series of catechesis on the Psalms, part of his wider cycle on the Christian school of prayer.



Twenty thousand pilgrims and visitors filled St Peter’s Square for the Wednesday audience. Pope Benedict began by tracing the history of this Psalm one of the famous “royal psalms”, originally linked to the enthronement of a Davidic monarch.

He said : “The Church reads this Psalm as a prophecy of Christ, the messianic king and eternal priest, risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father. Saint Peter, in his speech on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:32-36), applies its words to the Lord’s victory over death and his exaltation in glory. From ancient times, the mysterious third verse of the Psalm has been interpreted as a reference to the king’s divine sonship, while the fourth verse speaks of him as “a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek”. The Letter to the Hebrews specifically applies this imagery to Christ, the Son of God and our perfect high priest, who lives eternally to make intercession for all those who, through him, approach the Father (cf. Heb 7:25). The final verses of the Psalm present the triumphant King as executing judgment over the nations. As we pray this Psalm, we acclaim the victory of our risen Lord and King, while striving to live ever more fully the royal and priestly dignity which is ours as members of his Body through Baptism”.

In comments in Italian Pope Benedict noted : “"In the Lord Jesus resurrected and ascended into heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of the Father, the prophecy of our Psalm is accomplished and the priesthood of Melchizedek is completed, because it is rendered absolute and eternal, a reality that knows no sunset. And the offering of bread and wine, made by Melchizedek in Abraham's time, finds its fulfillment in the Eucharistic gesture of Jesus, who in the bread and wine offers himself, and having overcome death, brings life to all believers. Priest eternal, holy, innocent, unstained, he, as we can read in the Letter to the Hebrews, can save those who through Him approach God; he is ever-living to intercede for them ".

At the end of the Psalm is the triumphant king who, "supported by the Lord" scatters his enemies and judges the nations: "The sovereign, protected by the Lord, breaks down every obstacle and proceeds safely to victory. It tells us: yes, there is much evil in the world, there is an ongoing battle between good and evil and evil seems to be stronger. No! The Lord, our true King and Priest, Christ, is stronger because he fights with the power of God and despite all those things which make us doubt a positive outcome for history, Christ wins and good wins, love wins, not hatred. "


And finally the Holy Father greeted all of the pilgrims and visitors present in the various languages, including English: “I offer a cordial greeting the many student groups present at today’s Audience. My welcome also goes to the delegation of the American Israel Affairs Committee. Upon all the English-speaking pilgrims present, especially those from Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Japan, Canada and the United States, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!”.

It was Pope Benedict XVI’s final public appointment ahead of his departure this Friday for Benin, Africa.

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