This article has been updated.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde
joined the bishops of Region 4 in making their ad limina visit to the Vatican
Dec. 2-6.
It is Bishop Burbidge’s first ad limina visit as the Bishop of
Arlington.
The two bishops visited diocesan seminarians studying at the
Pontifical North American College in Rome Dec. 2. They had an audience with
Pope Francis in the papal library and celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St.
Paul Outside the Walls Dec. 3.
“It was incredible,” Bishop Burbidge said of their two-and-a-half
hour meeting with the pope.
“The Holy Father said from the beginning that he just wanted this
to be a dialogue, a conversation with brothers to learn more about us and our
pastoral situation, our challenges, our blessings,” Bishop Burbidge said.
“We were free to ask him questions and so that’s really what the
session was all about — us just sharing, dialoguing with each other. It was what
he talks about so much — accompanying each other and dialoguing. In a very real
way, he modeled that for us today.
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“It was a very open, very uplifting conversation,” Bishop
Burbidge said. “We had our chance to assure him of our prayers and support from
all the people of our diocese. He reassured us of his prayers and support too,
so it was really an uplifting experience.”
“The pope was very encouraging to us,” said Bishop Loverde. “We
left really enthusiastic and energized. It was a great gift. He was very
gracious.”
This group of bishops represent the Metropolitan Archdiocese of
Baltimore, the Dioceses of Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., and
Wilmington, Del., as well as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Washington, the
Diocese of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Archdiocese for the
Military Services, USA.
What began as an every-five-year visit, or quinquennial,
gradually changed under both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to every seven or
eight years.
Related article:What is a quinquennial report?
The trip to the Vatican comes months after the quinquennial
report, a comprehensive report on the state of the diocese, is submitted by
each diocese to the Roman Curia.
The bishops are required to pray at the threshold of the
apostles, literally “ad limina apostolorum,” so they celebrated Mass Dec. 2 at
the tomb of St. Peter in the grotto of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope John Paul II would meet with each bishop, Pope Benedict met
with up to 10 bishops at a time and Pope Francis now meets with 20 at a time
for a more than two-hour open discussion. The sheer number of dioceses
worldwide — more than 2,850 — necessitates group meetings.
The form for the quinquennial report asks for information on
things from the general religious situation of the diocese and the ministry of
the bishop, to the life and ministry of the clergy, the diocese’s financial
state, care of migrants and itinerants, communications and evangelization to
name a few.
Related article:Bishops on ‘ad liminia’ say unity with pope, each other, is clear
Most sections of the quinquennial report begin with statistical
outlines in an at-a-glance format, followed by detailed information. The report
is designed to encourage “reflection on the situation of the diocese and
pastoral planning for the future,” according to the form, as well as “to
facilitate their examination by the various dicasteries and offices of the
Roman Curia.”
Bishop Burbidge was scheduled to give the introduction at the
Vatican Secretariat for Communications on behalf of the bishops of Region 4. He
is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Communications Committee
and publisher of the Arlington Catholic Herald.
Bishop Loverde was scheduled to make a brief introduction at the Pontifical
Council for Promoting New Evangelization Dec. 5. This is his sixth ad limina
visit and his first with Pope Francis.