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	Vatican Spokesman: Austria Is Closer to the Pope Notes That Faithful Showed Love for Holy Father Zenit September 10, 2007 http://www.zenit.org/article-20465?l=english Vatican City — After Benedict XVI's apostolic trip to Austria, there is a new closeness between the Church there and the Bishop of Rome, says a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, spoke of the Pope's trip to Austria that ended Sunday. The spokesman recalled difficulties suffered by the Church in Austria, including accusations of sexual abuse, the closing of a seminary, and the work of anti-Church groups. He said the objective of the Pope's trip was to restore faith to Austrian Catholics. "I think the Church in Austria, which loves the Holy Father, was decidedly pleased," Father Lombardi said. "It showed faithful and decided participation above all in Mariazell, but also yesterday in St. Stephen's Square." The rain that plagued the visit prevented an even greater participation, the spokesman affirmed. Papal goals En route to Vienna last Friday, Benedict XVI told journalists that one of his fundamental goals in Austria was that of contributing to the healing of wounds. "Above all," the Pope said, "I would like to thank all those who have suffered in these last few years. I know that the Church in Austria has lived through difficult times. And what's more I am thankful to everyone — lay, religious and priests — who remained, throughout all these difficulties, faithful to the Church, to witnessing to Jesus, who in the Church of sinners where able to recognize the Face of Christ. "I would not say that these difficulties have already been overcome: Life in this century — and this is somewhat true for all centuries — is still difficult, even the faith lives in difficult contexts. "I hope to be able to help in the healing of these wounds, and I see that there is a new joy of the faith, there is a new momentum in the Church, and I would like to confirm this willingness to go forward with the Lord in anyway I can, to trust that the Lord remains present in his Church and that in this way, by living the faith in the Church, we can also arrive at our life's goal and contribute to a better world."
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