Anno Paolino Bimillenario della nascita di San Paolo Apostolo -

During their 59^th General Assembly, more than 300 members of the Italian Bishops� Conference (CEI) came as pilgrims to the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls to share in the celebrations marking the bi-millennium of the birth of the Apostle. Together they concelebrated their solemn Eucharist which traditionally takes place in St Peter�s Basilica. The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, flanked in the apse of the Basilica by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the bishops� conference and by one of the vice-presidents, Archbishop Giuseppe Chiaretti of Perugia.

The procession into the basilica was an impressive sight with the prelates robed in red chasubles, accompanied by the singing of the Litany of the Saints, after which the bishops stopped at the tomb of the Apostle where incense was offered up to the saint. During the homily at the votive Mass for St Paul, Cardinal Re pointed to the Apostle, �servant of God�, as the perfect � almost inimitable - example of strength and courage for his brother bishops. The cardinal also spoke of the teaching of the Apostle as �the centre of our lives and of our pastoral commitment�, exalting Paul�s �personal love of Christ� and his �intelligent and communicative way� of promoting dialogue and evangelisation. �May he be an inspiration to you in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the strengthening of faith in our contemporary secularised world�, the cardinal concluded, invoking also the protection of Our Lady as �a refuge in our times of difficulty and strugle against the forces of evil�.