‘Everyone’s words’
Ruiz told ACI Prensa that “it has been incredible, I have received a multitude of messages, even from people I don’t even know but who in one way or another have gotten my phone number.”
“I never thought that my words would be heard by so many people and that someone would thank me for listening to it, which is what is most moving for me.”
“Knowing that we are so many soldiers,” he continued, “who are not heard but who are there, that we form the most powerful army in the world with an invincible weapon, prayer,” he added.
Later Ruiz stressed that “the words I said were everyone’s, I just had the chance to hold the microphone.”
Evangelize by example
In addition, the pilot said that he wasn’t afraid of possible reprisals, since “if someone has to be afraid, it must be evil, seeing so many people praying.”
“When you speak well of a person as exemplary and good as Benedict XVI, no one can be offended, I don’t think anyone was offended,” he explained.
Thus he invited “people who don’t believe to meditate on the existence of God, to think that our civilization is governed by the commandments he gave us and without realizing it, they also accept and defend the Christian life, which is what we live out.”
“Believing in something gives you an advantage over not believing in anything. It is easier to fight for an objective, which is your faith,” he pointed out.
Regarding the apostolate, Raúl assured that “we all evangelize in our work, in our ordinary life. Being good people and good professionals, good friends, good parents.”
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‘Benedict filled the void of St. John Paul II’
On the person of Benedict XVI, Ruiz said that “being from the generation of the ’70s, St. John Paul II was a great example for me, so his successor would have it more difficult, there also being less media coverage.”
“This aspect of Benedict XVI, on the other hand, was what most caught my attention. He was direct, clear, serious.”
“For me, Benedict XVI was the pope who achieved the difficult task of filling and overcoming the huge void that St. John Paul II left us,” he concluded.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú is Rome correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN.
