Pope's general audience: Faith is personal, but it must also be lived in public and in the Church

October 31, 2012. (Romereports.com) Despite the light rain, Wednesday's general audience was held in St. Peter's Square. Roughly 10,000 people held on to their umbrellas, as the Pope continued his catechesis on the Year of Faith. He explained that faith is indeed something personal. But to live it fully and intensely, it must be shared and experienced within a community.

BENEDICT XVI
“We have seen that faith is something intensely personal: a gift of God which transforms and enriches our life.  At the same time, the gift of faith is given in and through the community of the Church.”

It's within a community that faith can be nourished, especially when celebrating the Sacraments. In essence, the Pope explained that one's faith when lived in the Church, becomes part of the Christian family.

BENEDICT XVI
“In this sense, the Church is our Mother. As Saint Cyprian says, “No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.”

Towards the end, the Pope also prayed for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. He said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and also with those who will take part in the rebuilding process.

BENEDICT XVI
“Conscious of the devastation caused by the hurricane which recently struck the East Coast of the United States of America, I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those engaged in the work of rebuilding.”

Among the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, this group of German musicians, greeted the Pope with a melody. Seated front and center, both the crowd and the Pope, seemed to enjoy the group's performance.