dominate. How much our world needs the example, guidance and quiet

strength of men like Joseph!

Finally, in contemplating the Holy Family of Nazareth, we turn to the

child Jesus, who in the home of Mary and Joseph grew in wisdom and under-

standing, until the day he began his public ministry. Here I would simply like

to leave a particular thought with the young people here. The Second Vati-

can Council teaches that children have a special role to play in the growth of

their parents in holiness.7 I urge you to reflect on this, and to let the example

of Jesus guide you, not only in showing respect for your parents, but also

helping them to discover more fully the love which gives our lives their

deepest meaning. In the Holy Family of Nazareth, it was Jesus who taught

Mary and Joseph something of the greatness of the love of God his heavenly

Father, the ultimate source of all love, the Father from whom every family in

heaven and on earth takes its name.8

Dear friends, in the Opening Prayer of today's Mass we asked the Father to

"help us to live as the Holy Family, united in respect and love". Let us reaffirm

here our commitment to be a leaven of respect and love in the world around us.

This Mount of the Precipice reminds us, as it has generations of pilgrims, that

our Lord's message was at times a source of contradiction and conflict with his

hearers. Sadly, as the world knows, Nazareth has experienced tensions in recent

years which have harmed relations between its Christian and Muslim commu-

nities. I urge people of good will in both communities to repair the damage that

has been done, and in fidelity to our common belief in one God, the Father of

the human family, to work to build bridges and find the way to a peaceful

coexistence. Let everyone reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice,

which kills men's souls before it kills their bodies!

Allow me to conclude with a word of gratitude and praise for all those

who strive to bring God's love to the children of this town, and to educate

new generations in the ways of peace. I think in a special way of the local

Churches, particularly in their schools and charitable institutions, to break

down walls and to be a seedbed of encounter, dialogue, reconciliation and

solidarity. I encourage the dedicated priests, religious, catechists and tea-

chers, together with parents and all concerned for the good of our children,

to persevere in bearing witness to the Gospel, to be confident in the triumph

of goodness and truth, and to trust that God will give growth to every

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Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 481

7 Cfr. Gaudium et Spes, 48. 8 Cfr. Eph 3:14-15.