Farewell Ceremony in Vienna (13 September 1983)

On Tuesday, 13 September 1983, the Holy Father bade farewell to Austria at the Schwechat International Airport in Vienna.

Dear President!
Dear Cardinal, dear brother bishops!
Ladies and gentlemen!

1. The hour of farewell has come. I look back with grateful joy on the past eventful days in which I was able to stay in your midst as a pilgrim among the people of God, as a witness of faith and Christian hope, and as a friend of your country. I came to strengthen my brothers and sisters in their Christian calling in accordance with the Lord's command. Richly blessed and full of deep memories, I now return to my episcopal city of Rome. We have all received much from the encounters of these days, from the solemn confession of Christ and from the shared praise of God. For this, God, the giver of all good things, deserves our praise and thanks.

2. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the success of my pastoral trip: you, dear President, and the citizens of the country for the warm hospitality you have shown me; my fellow bishops and priests, and all the believers who have prepared the Austrian Catholic Day and my visit so carefully. My heartfelt thanks go to all the state and church authorities involved, the security and order services, the first aid service, and the countless hidden helpers!

3. In the sign of the cross we have reflected on the history and mission of Europe and in this light we have considered the history and mission of Austria. We have become newly aware that Europe's present and future require powerful impulses from the heart of our Christian existence; that we need alert hearts to receive such impulses and put them into practice. The meetings in the church and the solemn services were aimed at this aim; my meetings with the representatives of international, public and cultural life also wanted to serve this aim.

4. And now it is time to say goodbye. May God allow the seed of his word, which he has spread throughout your homeland through the Catholic Day and through my service in your midst, to take root in the hearts and make it fruitful for all! May he also keep alive in me the many deep impressions that were given to me here and thus make them a gift to the whole Church!

I wish Austria peace and prosperity. I wish it those attitudes and virtues on which peace and prosperity can flourish, in which all material goods and structures find their meaning. I wish it continued cheerfulness of spirit, which is probably the reason why the arts and guests have always felt so at home within its borders. I wish it the protection of the saints whose sphere of influence it was. In Mariazell I recommended it to the Mother of our Lord, who with special love consecrated chapels and churches in so many places in its blessed landscape.

May the Lord of history, who granted Austria a new prosperity after the war, continue to keep his protective hand over it in the future, and indeed make it a blessing for all of Europe!

Dear Austrians! Farewell! God bless you!

© Copyright 1983 - Vatican Publishing House

Copyright © Communications Department - Vatican Publishing House