Pope Benedict celebrated mass for a huge crowd in St. Peter's Square Sunday, marking the Catholic Feast day of Pentecost. The pope spoke out against the creation of walls of indifference, of hatred and violence.
For the second straight day, tens-of-thousands of faithful flocked to Saint Peter's Square for a meeting with the pope. Benedict celebrated a mass for the cheering crowd just hours after a Pentecost vigil rally.
Members of church movements turned out in large number for the pope's mass on Pentecost, the day the church commemorates the establishment of the Church.
has made it a priority of his papacy to strengthen the faith. In his homily, he said the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down with power on the Apostles, adding, that so began the mission of the Church in the world.
The Church, the pope said, has been universal and missionary from its birth. Then he told the faithful:
"Man's pride and selfishness always create divisions, erect walls of indifference, of hatred and of violence," he said.
The pope greeted the faithful in several languages. Speaking in French, he prayed that young people may respond to the vocation of the priesthood and to consecrated life. In Polish, he recalled his recent visit to Poland, the homeland of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, thanking God and each of those present for their vigorous testimony of faith.
