Pope blesses statue of Opus Dei founder

[Algorem]

Pope blesses statue of Opus Dei founder

9/15/2005


Pope hopes icon will spur laity to do good works.



VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday blessed a statue of the founder of the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei, saying he hoped that it will serve as inspiration for those who passed by to "do one's daily work in the spirit of Christ."
The 20-foot-tall white Carrara marble statue, placed in a niche of the outside wall of St. Peter's Basilica, depicts St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer with his hands open in a welcoming gesture and two cherubs at his feet holding a sculpted Bible. Balaguer founded Opus Dei in Spain in 1928.

"May all those who stop to contemplate the statue be encouraged to live their daily work in the spirit of Christ and in ardent love for the work of redemption," said Benedict, who stopped to bless the statue at the end of his general audience before returning to Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence in the Alban hills outside Rome.

Opus Dei has more than 80,000 members worldwide.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050915/3067205.asp