The first apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI revealed to us the mind
and heart of a shepherd — a shepherd who is the Vicar of Christ
and who is indeed the visible presence of the Good Shepherd. What he
brought to each of us, members of his universal flock, through his messages,
prayers and presence, was truly “Christ
Our Hope.”
Making all things new through that true hope, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to every
segment of society — those who share his pastoral office as bishops, his
brother priests, men and women living the consecrated life and certainly the
lay faithful. He spoke to young and old, married and single, disabled and suffering.
Pope Benedict went beyond addressing audiences within the Church; he also spoke
to those who have left the Church, people of other denominations, those who belong
to no faith community and to the representatives of the entire world at the United
Nations.
And what did he say to this multitude of people? He said so very much! He proclaimed
to us all, unabashedly, that Christ is the one and only Savior. Fidelity to that
Truth will never lead us astray. Particularly, he spoke to us about the gravity
of growing secularism and an absence of God in our lives. In his address to bishops,
Pope Benedict said, “it is easy to make the mistake of thinking we can
obtain by our own efforts the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is an illusion.
Without God, who alone bestows upon us what we by ourselves cannot attain, our
lives are ultimately empty. People need to be constantly reminded to cultivate
a relationship with him who came that we might have life in abundance.”
It is clear in these words that the Holy Father has a keen understanding of the
struggles of Catholics in America. He went on to instruct us during his homily
at Nationals Stadium to avoid a “growing forgetfulness of Christ and God.” We
may find it easy to attend Mass on Sunday and to pray regularly, yet the Holy
Father knows that, at times, we are tempted away from God by materialism and
consumerism. As a shepherd, Pope Benedict revealed his pastoral care for his
flock in America at the deepest level as he leads us to everlasting life through
the presence and message of “Christ Our Hope,” and left us energized,
hope-filled and truly blessed.
Personally, I witnessed Pope Benedict offer his bishops an enthusiastic, hope-filled,
comprehensive and direct pastoral plan, a guide for us that is rooted in the
centrality of the family. It is in the family that we learn values, nurture vocations
and grow spiritually. A healthy family is the best remedy to counteract the ills
of today’s society.
In the providence of God and in God’s loving care, Pope Benedict also spoke
to victims of abuse, acknowledging the tragedies and the horrendous evil of this
sin, while hoping and praying for healing. In his address to bishops he instructed
us to “bind up the wounds” caused by the horror of sexual abuse,
and indeed looked, as his predecessor did before him, to the hopeful outcome
of a “holier priesthood, a holier episcopate and a holier Church.”
Let us each continue to pray for the healing and strength of the victims and
survivors of sexual abuse, whether abused by clergy, family members or through
acts of violence. When we do so, we can be assured that our prayers our joined
with those of the Vicar of Christ.
Undoubtedly, Pope Benedict’s visit will touch the hearts of Catholics who
have left the Church. I believe they heard and saw a new invitation to come home.
And if they come home, they will find a community waiting to welcome them with
open hearts. In his homily at Nationals Stadium, the Holy Father invited as all
to take part in this coming home through the gift of the sacrament of penance: “The
liberating power of this sacrament, in which our honest confession of sin is
met by God’s merciful word of pardon and peace, needs to be rediscovered
and reappropriated by every Catholic.” Indeed, those present at the stadium
had many priests available for confession prior to the Mass, and it was a great
joy to see so many people grow in holiness through their participation in this
often forgotten sacrament.
Contrary to so many predictions of a scolding, admonishing Pope Benedict, we
welcomed a pope who proclaimed the truth about Church teaching in a positive
and welcoming manner. Many were left surprised and overwhelmed. By nature, our
Holy Father is a man of shy temperament, yet on this trip we saw so many signs
of his vibrant warmth and love for all of God’s people. I still picture
him reaching out to kiss the forehead of a baby at Nationals Stadium, or to hug
a disabled child at St. Joseph Seminary.
Moreover, I am confident he was reaching out not only physically to all Americans,
but also spiritually and intellectually, challenging us with the love of a true
pastor. As a good shepherd, he knows the Truth, the source of everlasting life,
is the only food which will nourish his flock. As St. Ambrose told us, “Where
Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church, no death is there, but life
eternal.” Looking back on the visit of the successor of Peter, it can be
said that truly, we experienced a unique and unforgettable moment in our Church.
I trust that our diocesan Church will join me, with an ever-deepening encouragement,
enthusiasm and zeal, to echo and make more visible our Holy Father’s constant
message to all Americans: “Christ Our Hope!”
