Pope prays people might find time to rest, pray, enjoy the outdoors

Published: 2007-07-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Calling vacation time "a gift of God," Pope Benedict XVI prayed that everyone might find time in the summer to rest, pray and enjoy the outdoors. Reciting the Angelus July 8 with visitors in St. Peter's Square, the pope explained that he would spend July 9-27 in a church-owned villa in Lorenzago di Cadore, a small Alpine town in northeastern Italy. "The mountain air will do me good, and I can dedicate myself more freely to reflection and prayer," the pope told the crowd. "I hope everyone -- especially those who feel a greater need -- can take a bit of vacation to fortify their physical and spiritual energies and recover a healthy contact with nature," he said. Pope Benedict said mountain vacations have a special meaning to him because a mountain "evokes the ascent of one's spirit" toward God, which, "unfortunately, daily life tends to drag down."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .