On October 10th, a delegation from the NATO Defense College (NDC) had the privilege of attending the weekly General Audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Among the group were members of College Staff, of Senior Course 121 (SC 121) and of the Eighth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 8), together with their families.
Attendance at a papal audience is a fundamental part of the College’s academic programme: as a vital opportunity for Course Members of different religious and cultural backgrounds to better understand Catholic institutions and customs, it affords an immeasurably important contribution to the constant dialogue to which NATO and Partner countries are committed.
The audience took place in Saint Peter’s Square, attended by an estimated 60,000 people. An inspiring address by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and the intense beauty of the setting contributed to a deeply moving experience for the NDC delegation.
Following the audience, the group from the NDC was accompanied on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. This provided a rare opportunity to admire the immense wealth of great art which explains the importance of these collections for visitors from all over the world.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Eleonora Fuser, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 