Benedict XVI is highlighting the royalty of Christ the King on the cross, as he received the good thief into his kingdom.
The Pope stated this today before praying the midday Angelus together with those gathered in St. Peter's Square.
The Pontiff had just concelebrated in St. Peter's Basilica the liturgy of the Solemnity of Christ the King along with the 24 new cardinals created Saturday in the consistory.
"The Gospel of St. Luke presents, as in a great painting, the royalty of Jesus in the moment of his crucifixion," the Holy Father affirmed.
He noted that "the leaders of the people and the soldiers deride the firstborn of all creation and they test him to see if he has the power to save himself from death."
"In fact, while the Lord finds himself between two criminals, one of them, aware of his own sins, opens himself to truth, arrives at faith and prays to the king of the Jews: 'Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom,'" Benedict XVI noted.
He added, "From him who 'is before all things and in whom all things exist' the so-called good thief immediately receives forgiveness and the joy of entering into the Kingdom of Heaven."
"With these words," the Pope affirmed, "Jesus, from the throne of the cross receives every man with infinite mercy."
He referenced St. Ambrose, who said that this "is a beautiful example of conversion to which one should aspire: forgiveness is quickly offered the thief and the grace is more abundant than the request."
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