Words in the Chapel of the Military School Before leaving Paris (2 June 1980)
ShareOn Monday, 2 June 1980, the Holy Father gave some final words in the chapel of the military school before leaving Paris.
Dear brothers and sisters:
I must soon leave Paris, and first I want to thank the authorities and especially the people who have helped me live these three days in Paris.
But before delivering the farewell speech , it is better to say thank you here, before the Lord, in this place so well chosen by your Cardinal Archbishop. Because only before Him can I say thank you, a thank you that has many meanings, a thank you that means "may the Lord reward you". You have worked very well to prepare this visit; and I'm really sorry for having given all this work to so many people: excuse me: I'm guilty..., I'm guilty. But there are times when "felix culpa" is said, and above all this phrase should be said while standing before the Eucharist, "felix culpa".
Now I must address your archbishop, not to tell him that he is guilty, but to tell him that he, in a special way, has a part in this "felix culpa"! I must thank you, my dear brother, Archbishop of Paris, for this initiative, for having invited me to your capital, to your Church. And I think we should thank the Lord that he has been leading us from the beginning and has allowed us to reach this moment, a moment of "chat". As Cardinal Marty says, it was the Lord who entrusted Rome with the mission of being present everywhere, of being present above all in Paris for many reasons; and I am happy to have made this presence of Rome in Paris a reality - thanks to the invitation of various Organizations and above all to the fraternal invitation of Cardinal Marty. I hope that thanks to it, Paris will be even more present in Rome. In gratitude I only have to offer you a blessing in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and I would like to give it to you collegially with your cardinal archbishop and the other bishops present... Well, let us pray the Our Father. Through you I thank all Parisians for this extraordinary welcome. See you soon; but I think that if Rome is now present in Paris and Paris in Rome, it is useless to say "see you again". See you soon; but I think that if Rome is now present in Paris and Paris in Rome, it is useless to say "see you again". See you soon; but I think that if Rome is now present in Paris and Paris in Rome, it is useless to say "see you again".
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