Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Pope is saddened by the events of recent days regarding the documents stolen in the Vatican, surrounding which "totally gratuitous" allegations have been made, painting an image of the Vatican, which does not correspond to reality. It was Benedict XVI himself to say as much, today, in an impromptu speech during which he renewed his confidence in his "closest collaborators". The events of recent days, he  said at the end of the general audience, "have brought sadness to my heart, but never obscured my firm conviction that despite trials, difficulties and weaknesses, the Lord does not abandon his Church." " Nevertheless, some entirely gratuitous rumours have multiplied, amplified by some media, which went well beyond the facts, offering a picture of the Holy See that does not correspond to reality." Pope Benedict concluded, saying, "I would like therefore to reiterate my confidence and my encouragement to my staff and to all those who, day in and day out, faithfully and with a spirit of sacrifice, quietly help me in fulfilling my ministry.''

Previously, continuing his catechesis on prayer in the Letters of St. Paul, in front of the 30 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience, Benedict XVI dwelt on the "dynamics" between the "yes" of God and the Amen of the faithful expressed in the Second Letter to the Corinthians: "a Church which has repeatedly questioned its apostleship and which shows its absolute fidelity to Jesus." The Pope recalled how St. Paul "lived in great tribulation, and endured many difficulties and afflictions, but he never yielded to discouragement, sustained by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." "To proclaim Christ he also suffered persecution, he was even locked up in prison, but he always felt inwardly free, animated by the presence of Christ, and eager only to announce the word of the Gospel of hope. From prison he writes to Timothy, his faithful Contributor: "the Word of God is not fettered Therefore I endure all things for those whom God has chosen, that they also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."

 "In the prayer of blessing which introduces the Second Letter to the Corinthians the theme of consolation dominates alongside the theme of the afflictions, not to be construed only as a simple comfort, but also as an encouragement and exhortation not to be overcome by trouble and difficulties. The invitation is to live each situation united to Christ, who took upon himself all the suffering and the sin of the world to bring light, hope and redemption. And so Jesus enables us in turn to console those who are afflicted. Deep union with Christ in prayer, trust in his presence, leads to a willingness to share the sufferings and afflictions of our brothers. "

The short prayer is the encounter between the " faithful and steadfast yes, " of God and personal and communal '"Amen" of the faithful, expressing adhesion and praise it is "an encounter with a living person", that "gives us His consolation amid the storms of life. " Because "in our journey we encounter difficulties, misunderstandings, suffering, but faithful in the relationship with the Lord, constant in daily prayer, we too can feel the comfort that comes from God and this strengthens our faith because it helps us experience in a concrete way the 'yes' man of God in Christ, the faithfulness of his love, to the point of His gifting his Son on the cross. "

"The way God acts - very different from ours - gives us comfort, strength and hope, because God does not withdraw his assent. In the face of conflict in human relationships, even within the family,  we often do not persevere in gratuitous love, which costs effort and sacrifice. Instead, God does not tire of us, He never grows tired of being patient with us and with his immense mercy he is always before us, he always comes to encounter us. " "There is no person - concluded the Pope - who is not touched by this faithful love, which is capable of waiting even for those who continue to respond with the " no "of rejection or hardening of the heart. God waits for us, He always seeks us out, He wants to receive us into fellowship with Him and gift each of us fullness of life, hope and peace. "