News

The Prior General (senior brother) of the Carmelite Order, Most Rev. Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., met Pope Benedict on Sunday 25th July 2010 following the Holy Father's recitation of the Angelus at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.

The Prior General was accompanying some of the young people associated with the Carmelites in Europe who had been in Rome for the "Pilgrimage of Hope".

Referring to the Gospel of the day (Luke 11:1-13), Pope Benedict spoke about prayer. At the end of the Angelus he greeted the pilgrim groups present, including the young people of the Carmelite pilgrimage. The Prior General, together with some bishops present, was then invited to meet the Pope personally .

The Prior General used the occasion to speak with the Pope about the Pilgrimage of Hope. The Holy Father lauded the initiative, expressing his hope that the World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011 - in which the Pilgrims of Hope will take part - will be a great event for the Church. The Pope then enquired about what countries the young people had come from and about their ages. Finally, he addressed the Prior General with these words: "The Carmelites, as in today's Gospel, are the ones who teach us to pray…"

To watch a video of the Angelus recitation and the Holy Father's speech please click here (the greeting to the Carmelite young people is at 17'40'').

Source: CITOC Carmelite News