Pope says Christianity not just legacy of Europe, but way to future

Published: 2007-09-07

VIENNA, Austria (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Austria for a three-day pilgrimage, saying Christianity was not just the legacy of Europe's past but "the way to the future." The pope stepped off his chartered Alitalia jet Sept. 7 in heavy rain at the Vienna airport, where he was welcomed by Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who quickly ushered the pontiff into a hangar. After an honor-guard salute, the pope said in a speech that he felt at home in Austria, a country "deeply imbued with the message of Jesus Christ." His voice was still somewhat rough after a recent bout of hoarseness. The pope said the focus of his journey, a visit to the Marian shrine at Mariazell, would take him to the "maternal heart of Austria" and underline the role of Mary throughout Central Europe. The Marian sanctuary, the pope said, "reminds us of an essential dimension of human beings: their capacity for openness to God and his word of truth."

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