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Pope Benedict said in his homily for First Vespers for the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul in 2007:
“…[A]s in early times, today too, Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like St. Paul.
“Paul, a former violent persecutor of Christians, when he fell to the ground dazzled by the divine light on the road to Damascus, did not hesitate to change sides to the Crucified One and followed him without second thoughts. He lived and worked for Christ, for him he suffered and died. How timely his example is today!
“And for this very reason I am pleased to announce officially that we shall be dedicating a special Jubilee Year to the Apostle Paul from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 2009, on the occasion of the bi-millennium of his birth, which historians have placed between the years 7 and 10 A.D.”
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