Benedict XVI: Church Not Asking For Privileges But For Religious Freedom

“Sinners will return to [the Lord].” Christians need to “resist the temptation of a faith that is superficial and routine, at times fragmentary and incoherent.”

Benedict XVI stressed this as he celebrated mass today under the beating Mexican sun. Today, the Bicentennial Park, which was created to celebrate the two centuries of Latin American independence, turned into an overseas version of St. Peter's Square.

The park was sizzling, both emotionally [and] temperature-wise, filled as it was with crowds of pilgrims who had slept here waiting for the Pope's arrival.

The Church is not asking for privileges but for religious freedom and participation in social life. The appeal was addressed to the leaders of lands “suffering due to poverty, corruption, domestic violence, drug trafficking, the crisis of values and increased crime” and emigration which divides families.

The Pope said he held the defence of legality and the fight against any form of violence, close to his heart and as such got Mexico's President, Felipe Calderon, to commit to concluding an international treaty to regulate the responsible trade of small arms and light weapons, the proliferation of which has favoured criminal action and organised crime.

The Pope's homily in the Bicentennial Park, sent a strong appeal to faithful to look “deep into their hearts, particularly during moments that unite feelings of pain and hope, such as those which the Mexican people and other Latin American populations are currently experiencing.” The invitation was extended to all those who were willing to “boldly promote peace, harmony, justice and solidarity.”

Benedict XVI came to the Bicentennial Park - the public space in the city of León in the state of Guanajuato, cradle of the Mexican struggle for independence, set up to commemorate the Country's 200 years of independence - by helicopter.

In a space that holds up to 350,000 people, the Pope celebrated mass alongside approximately 250,000 including cardinals, Mexican bishops, presidents from the 22 Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Conferences, bishops from all across the American continent and about three thousand priests.

During the helicopter ride to the Bicentennial Park, Benedict XVI flew over the huge statue of Christ the King on Cerro del Cubilete hill (2700 metres) which overlooks the city. This is the world's second most imposing statue after the famous Christ the Redeemer one in Rio de Janeiro and is one of Mexico's largest religious monuments, with pilgrimages made to it each year on Epiphany, on horseback (Cavalcada).

Cerro del Cubilete was chosen because it is Mexico's exact geographical centre. The sculpture (which weighs 80 tons and is 22 metres high) depicts Christ with his arms wide open, flanked by two angels: one holds the royal crown and the other the crown of thorns. The original statue was created in 1923 and destroyed in 1926 as the result of a bombing ordered by Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles at the start of the “Cristeros” revolt (1926-1929).

The statue that has stood there since 1940 was co-funded by the Mexican government, as a gesture of goodwill towards the Catholic Church. “May Christ reign in your lives and help you,” the Pope told pilgrims who came to León from all over Mexico. Benedict XVI was visibly moved and filled with joy at the sight of today's spontaneous gathering, that was attended by countless young people who advertised themselves as “the Pope's youth” in slogans and songs.