CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged people across the globe to wholeheartedly return to God during his last Mass today as pontiff of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n\t\u201cMay the invitation to conversion, to 'return to God with all our heart,' resonate strongly in us,\u201d Pope Benedict said at St. Peter's Basilica on Ash Wednesday Feb. 13.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cAccepting his grace that makes us new men and women, with the surprising news that is participating in the very life of Jesus,\u201d he said during the Mass held at 5 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n
\tBenedict XVI's homily was his last as the head of the Church after he announced on Monday that he will be resigning on Feb. 28.<\/p>\n
\tThe Ash Wednesday Mass normally takes place in the Basilica of St. Sabina on Rome's Aventine Hill each year. Because it was Pope Benedict\u2019s lass Mass, however, the liturgy was moved to St. Peter\u2019s Basilica so that more individuals could participate.<\/p>\n
\tPope Benedict noted that the \u201creturn of heart\u201d to God, which was read at Mass as the first reading from the second chapter of Joel in the Bible, is a reminder that not only involves the individual but the entire community. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThe community dimension is an essential element in faith and Christian life and Christ came to gather the children of God who are scattered into one,\u201d said the 85-year-old, who has shepherded the Church since 2005.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThe 'we' of the Church is the community in which Jesus brings us together and faith is necessarily ecclesial.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tDuring Lent in particular, \u201ceach person must be aware that the penitential journey cannot be faced alone, but together with many brothers and sisters in the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope said this witness reveals the face of the Church which is, at times, disfigured by the sins of disunity and division in the Body of Christ.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cLiving Lent in a more intense and evident ecclesial communion, overcoming individualism and rivalry is a humble and precious sign for those who have distanced themselves from the faith or who are indifferent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tVatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone greeted Pope Benedict after Mass as the Holy Father received a standing ovation of over two minutes \u2013 an overwhelming applause that echoed in the basilica.<\/p>\n
\tPope Benedict will hold his last public audience on Feb. 27 in St. Peter's Square instead of\u00a0 Paul VI Hall, where it normally takes place this time of year<\/p>\n
\tCorrected on Feb. 14, 2013 at 11:21 a.m. Rome time. Changes location in last paragraph for the final general audience. It was originally reported as St. Peter's Basilica but it will be held in the square.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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Vatican City, Feb 13, 2013 \/ 12:52 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged people across the globe to wholeheartedly return to God during his last Mass today as pontiff of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
\t“May the invitation to conversion, to &#…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\n
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