Holy Father to University students: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for man's salvation

Benedict XVI meets Roman University students and faculty before Christmas: 'Salvation comes from Christ and is offered to all, without distinction'

"Let Paul speak to you, Christian teachers and students of Rome today, and let him draw you into the experience that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation for all who believe." Thus Benedict XVI turned to the seven thousand students and teachers of the Roman universities that gathered Thursday evening in Saint Peter's Basilica for the traditional pre-Christmas meeting with the Pope. After the celebration presided over by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini, Benedict XVI spoke to the Roman universities, taking his point of departure from the Pauline Year's way of formation, initiated by the diocesan university apostolate.

"The Christian, who was revolutionary in the historical and cultural context of Paul, retains a force of novelty that is always present, explained the Holy Father, and is still capable of bringing down other walls that reappear in many different contexts, in every age. The source of that strength lies in the Spirit of Christ, announced by Paul with the news of the salvation brought by Christ to humanity: in His death and resurrection, salvation is offered to all people without distinction."

At the end of his address, Benedict XVI presented a digital copy of the Letter of Paul to the Romans to 12 university representatives.