For Sunday, April 27, 2008

My Brothers and Sisters,

A week ago, Pope Benedict XVI was on American soil, caught up in the final events of his successful Pastoral Visit to the United States. This first Papal visit to the U.S. by Benedict since his election to the papacy three years ago was marked with some welcome surprises and affirmation for American Catholics.

It was refreshing, and hopefully healing, to hear the Holy Father address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in no uncertain terms, even to the point of meeting at Washington’s Papal Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) with a group of victims to personally express his remorse and to pray for their healing. Over and over again, Benedict reaffirmed his role as Universal Pastor of our Church – he did not scold or chide, but entreated us American Catholics to continue our journey of growth as Christ’s disciples. At St. Patrick’s Cathedral last Saturday morning, Pope Benedict met with priests and religious from the East Coast dioceses, and reflected on some aspects of our Catholicity that I think are good for us to ponder:

"In this country", said the Holy Father in his homily, "the Church's mission has always involved drawing people 'from every nation under heaven' into spiritual unity, and enriching the Body of Christ by the variety of their gifts. As we give thanks for past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America".

The Church, he went on, "is called to proclaim the gift of life, to serve life, and to promote a culture of life... The proclamation of life, life in abundance, must be the heart of the new evangelization. For true life - our salvation - can only be found in the reconciliation, freedom and love which are God's gracious gift.

"This", he added, "is the message of hope we are called to proclaim and embody in a world where self-centredness, greed, violence, and cynicism so often seem to choke the fragile growth of grace in people's hearts... Perhaps we have lost sight of this: in a society where the Church seems legalistic and 'institutional' to many people, our most urgent challenge is to communicate the joy born of faith and the experience of God's love".

"In the finest traditions of the Church in this country", the Pope concluded, addressing the priests and religious, "may you also be the first friend of the poor, the homeless, the stranger, the sick and all who suffer. Act as beacons of hope, casting the light of Christ upon the world, and encouraging young people to discover the beauty of a life given completely to the Lord and His Church".

What wonderful words these are – in my opinion, they so well capture the spirit of this loving, pastoral and exceedingly intelligent leader of our Church. What a blessing it has been to host him in our own country; now we pray that his visit may continue to bear much fruit for our Catholic Faith in the United States!

In the peace and joy of the Risen Christ,

Rev. Charles G. Kieffer, V.F.
Pastor