Supreme Knight Carl Anderson speaks about next month’s papal
visit to Washington and New York during a conference Tuesday in
Washington. (HENRIETTA GOMES | CATHOLIC HERALD)
Making present the love of God is imperative to change the often “coarse
amoral and materialistic” culture, said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight
Carl Anderson at the National Press Club in Washington Tuesday.
According to Anderson, change rooted in love will most likely be addressed by
Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Washington and New York next month.
Anderson’s newly published book, A Civilization of Love: What Every
Catholic Can Do to Transform the World, presents insights on themes that
the pope may address during his visit. The premise of the book is “about
the power of faith to transform culture,” Anderson said. (See review page
30).
Cultural change, he noted “Must begin with the way that each of us lives
out our faith.”
Anderson, a member of three pontifical councils, who has worked closely with
Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, noted that Christian charity must be
autonomous from political parties and ideologies.
“Christianity must not be reduced to a moral or political system,” he
said during his 40-minute presentation. “What we need is people who
keep their eyes fixed on God.”
According to a survey conducted by the Knights, the Americans are looking forward
to the papal visit. They “have a sensible and balanced view of Pope Benedict
and the Catholic Church.”
The Knights have launched an interactive information Web site, co-sponsored by
the Eternal Word Television Network, on the papal visit, which includes the pope’s
biography, the text of his encyclicals and the logistics of his visit.
Dispelling some of the myths about the German pope being a strict man, Anderson
said, “the real Benedict is a warm and kind man.” He noted that the
pope’s first encyclical was on the love of God, followed by one on hope.
Calling him “remarkably friendly,” Anderson noted that Pope Benedict
is as committed to the youth as was his predecessor. “He understands the
Church as a young Church,” Anderson said, adding he understands the future
of the Church depends on the youth and young adults.
Answering questions from his audience, Anderson said that the pope will likely
address the “necessity for priestly formation.” Pope Benedict is
scheduled to meet with U.S. bishops, priests and seminarians in Washington and
New York during his visit. The pope will most likely call upon priests to be “holy
priests and spiritually oriented,” Anderson said.
He encouraged his audience to read the pope’s encyclicals and his book, Jesus
of Nazareth.
“Anyone who takes the trouble to read his books, will find them readable
and fascinating,” said Anderson, calling the pope an “incisive, creative
thinker.”
When asked about other denominations and faiths participating in events during
the papal visit, Anderson said ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue is something
that the pope holds dear to his heart.
However, the pope’s way of dealing is by first clarifying the issues in
order to have an authentic dialogue. The Holy Father, he said, “is very
confident in who he is as a Christian” and is “open to real dialogue.” Anderson
said, “When we walk together in peace, we walk on God’s road.”
Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.
The pope’s message to America
The Knights of Columbus has produced a television preview of the papal visit, “A
Journey of Hope.” The show will be aired on WUSA Channel 9 at noon April
13.
For more information go to
papaltrip.com.
