Pope speaks on St. John the Baptist

December 10, 2012

At his Angelus audience on Sunday, December 9, Pope Benedict XVI spoke on the role of St. John the Baptist.

"John--as the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, both of priestly families--is not only the last of the prophets, but also represents the whole priesthood of the Old Covenant and therefore prepares mankind for the spiritual worship of the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus," the Pope said.

St. John the Baptist plays a key role in salvation history, “but always in relation to Christ,” the Pope observed. He commented that although St. John called on the Hebrew people to prepare for the Lord, the Word incarnate, in this unique case the “the Word of God precedes, since it come to John the son of Zacharius in the wilderness.”

 

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Further information:

• Angelus: The Essential Nature of St. John the Baptists (VIS)