The Holy Father Addresses the Bishops

Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., President of the USCCB, welcomed the Holy Father to the United States on behalf of the bishops and the Catholic people, calling him a father and a friend in Christ. Cardinal George spoke of the difficult history of the Catholic Church in the United States and asked the Holy Father to speak of hope. Cardinal George spoke of the five priorities that the USCCB has adopted for the next five years.

Pope Benedict addressed the bishops, beginning by acknowledging the bicentennial of the establishment of the dioceses of Boston, Louisville (originally Bardstown), New York, and Philadelphia, and the raising of Baltimore to an archdiocese. The Holy Father spoke warmly of the diversity of the Church in the United States and encouraged the bishops to continue to welcome the immigrants who come to the United States seeking a better life.

The Holy Father lauded the Church in the United States for its generosity and faith. He noted the importance of freedom of religion which allows people to worship in accord with their beliefs.

Pope Benedict gave a special welcome to the Bishops of the Eastern Churches. Many of these bishops serve communities that suffer in their homelands.

Pope Benedict then looked at how the Bishops can sow the seeds of the Gospel in the United States, helping people to make all things new in Christ. He emphasized that faith must not be reserved only for Mass on Sunday, but must pervade all aspects of our lives. He spoke of the dangers presented by secularism, materialism, and individualism.

The Holy Father emphasized the critical role played by faith formation so that all that Catholics do may bear good fruit and so that they may be leaven in a society facing many ethical challenges.

Pope Benedict emphasized that the bishops must support the family and marriage. The family is a place of evangelization and handing on the faith. Healthy families are an important building block of a peaceful society.

The Holy Father addressed the shame arising from the sexual abuse of minors by some clerics and the pain this abuse has caused in many communities. He noted that the majority of clerics serve faithfully, but the vulnerable must always be protected, not only in the Church, but in the wider society as well. The Holy Father said that the sexual abuse crisis must be viewed in the wider context of sexual mores. He pointed out the damaging effects of pornography and violence, stressing the importance of sound moral formation. Pope Benedict also stressed the need for bishops to offer fatherly support to their priests, especially in light of the tensions arising from the crisis, helping priests to draw spiritual strength from being configured to the suffering Christ.

Pope Benedict said that, despite the press of duties, prayer, including adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours, must remain at the center of life, so that the Bishops may be more closely configured to Christ, the Good Shepherd.

The bishops responded to the address with a standing ovation.

Following his address, the Holy Father took a few questions. The first question was asked by Bishop J. Vann Johnston, Jr., the newest bishop in the United States. It dealt with the pastoral challenge of evangelizing in light of secularism and relativism. Pope Benedict said that, in the United States, secularism has not been opposed to religion. However, religious belief can be reduced to the least common denominator. He expressed the importance of sound formation so that the laity embrace a Catholic view of reality and become leaven for the world. He stressed a new for true conversion of spirit and for an understanding of the relationship between the Gospel and natural law. Following the Gospel must be seen as an integral way of life.

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, the longest serving bishop in the United States asked the second question, addressing the issue of Catholics abandoning the practice of the faith. The Holy Father said that it is important to create a Catholic identity grounded not on externals, but on a way of thinking and acting grounded in the Gospel and enriched by the Church’s Tradition. Preaching must be strong. People must learn how to pray and must be renewed by the Liturgy. He expressed the importance of speaking meaningfully about salvation and encouraging an eschatological sense, so that people will be drawn to the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. OUr love for Christ must lead us to build up the Church and extend his kingdom. Religion is never purely private.

The third question came from Bishop Basil Schott, OFM, the chairman of the Eastern Bishops of the United States. He asked about the decline in vocations. Pope Benedict said that vocations to the priesthood and religious life are the sign of a healthy Church. God continues to call. We must encourage a generous response to that call. He spoke of the important role played by prayer and by strong Catholic families, as well of the importance of strong vocation directors and seminary formators. It is critical to listen to the idealism of young people in the Church and to have a presbyterate marked by fraternity and its unity in the Spirit.

In honor of Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday, Cardinal George presented him with a check for $870,000 from the faithful of the United States in support of his charitable works.

In closing, the Holy Father presented a silver rose to the Basilica as a commemoration of his visit. He also gave a chalice to Archbishop Alfred Hughes, the Archbishop of New Orleans, as a sign of his solidarity with the people of that diocese who have suffered so deeply in light of Hurricane Katrina and as a sign of his personal gratitude for the devotion of the bishops who serve these people.p>

The Holy Father’s address can be found here.

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Celebrating Vespers with the Bishops

The Holy Father traveled by Popemobile from the headquarters of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. For part of the journey, he rolled down the windows of the Popemobile to hear the gathered people and the ringing of the church bells.

He blessed the gathered people and entered the Basilica’s Great Upper Church where he greeted employees of the USCCB, the Archdiocese of Washington, and the Basilica. The Holy Father went to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to offer a brief prayer. He also stopped to pray at the statue of Our Lady of Altötting, the patroness of Bavaria, Pope Benedict’s native land.

Pope Benedict then went to the Crypt Church to celebrate Evening Prayer (Vespers) with approximately 350 Bishops of the United States. He entered the church as the choir sang Tu es Petrus (You are Peter). Evening Prayer was that for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter. The Holy Father wore a gold cope and miter and carried the crozier of Pope Pius IX.

After the introduction, the Holy Father and the bishops sang the hymn “AT the Lamb’s High Feast.” The psalmody included the two halves of Psalm 139 and the canticle from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (1:12-20). The reading was from the Letter to the Hebrews (7:24-27). The reading was proclaimed by Terri Crovato, an employee of the USCCB. The reading was followed by a brief sung responsory. The bishops chanted the Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55) in Latin while the Holy Father incensed the altar and the bishops. The Gospel Canticle was followed by the intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, the closing prayer, and a final blessing. The bishops then sang the Regina Caeli in Latin.

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Pope Benedict XVI Visits the White House

Pope Benedict XVI was welcomed to the United States by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.  The arrival ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).

The ceremony began with “Ruffles and Flourishes” and the playing of “Hail to the Chief.”  The President then greeted Pope Benedict, introduced him to members of the welcoming committee, and escorted him to the dais. 

A military band played the National Anthems of the Holy See and the United States of America while 21-gun salute took place.  The Holy Father was seated while a fife and drum corps in colonial garb passed in review.  Soprano Kathleen Battle sang the Lord’s Prayer.

President Bush offered brief remarks welcoming Pope Benedict to the United States.  President Bush highlighted the religiosity and compassion of the American people. 

Pope Benedict gave a short address, speaking about the moral values on which the United States is founded and on the importance of these values in maintaining a free and just society, able to face the ethical challenges of the day.

The event concluded with a choral rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The Holy Father waved to the crowds and was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” before entering the White House for a private meeting with President Bush.

The USCCB Papal Visit website has posted video of the ceremony here.

The text of the Holy Father’s comments can be found here.

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Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!

Today is Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday. Please remember him in your prayers in a special way today.

Ad multos annos!*

*A traditional birthday greeting, translated loosely as “May you live many more years!”

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The Holy Father Arrives!

Shepherd One, the Holy Father’s plane, landed at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland shortly before 4:00 p.m. EDT today (April 15). The cockpit of the plane was decorated with U.S. and papal flags waving in a strong breeze. The Holy Father disembarked with a huge smile and waves about ten minutes after the hour.

The Holy Father was met by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush and Church dignitaries, including the President and Vice President of the USCCB, the Apostolic Nuncio, and the Archbishops of Washington and of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. A colorguard representing each of the military services welcomed the Holy Father. President and Mrs. Bush were accompanied by their daughter, Jenna.

The Holy Father exchanged greetings with the welcoming party, but no public statements were made. The Holy Father then traveled by motorcade to the residence of the Apostolic Nuncio where he will spend the night.

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The Papal Coat of Arms

For at least 800 years, each pope has had a personal coat of arms. Pope Benedict XVI’s coat of arms was created by Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo. It includes many symbols that speak of his understanding of his ministry as Pope, including a miter and a pallium. The miter has three gold stripes to symbolize order, jurisdiction and magisterium. A vertical gold band connects the three stripes in the middle “to indicate their unity in the same person,” Archbishop Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo said.

Other symbols in the coat of arms include the Holy See’s insignia of two crossed keys, which symbolize the powers Christ gave to the apostle Peter and his successors. The gold key on the right represents the power in heaven and the silver key on the left indicates the spiritual authority of the papacy on earth. The cord that unites the two keys alludes to the bond between the two powers. Nestled on top of the keys lies the shield of Pope Benedict, based on his coat of arms as archbishop of Munich and Freising, Germany.

The shield is divided into three sections, each with its own symbol. The central element on a red background is a large gold shell. The shell recalls a legend in which Saint Augustine came across a boy on the seashore who was scooping water from the sea and pouring it into a small hole he had dug in the sand. When the saint pondered this seemingly futile activity, it struck him as analogous to limited human minds trying to understand the infinite mystery of the divine. In addition, the shell symbolizes the pilgrim. It is also present in the coat of arms of the Schotten monastery in Regensburg, Germany. The Holy Father is close to this monastery.

The upper left-hand section of the shield depicts a brown-faced Moor with red lips, crown and collar; it is a symbol of the former Diocese of Freising dating back to the eighth century. Though it is not known why the Moor came to represent Freising, in Milestones, the pope said for him “it is an expression of the universality of the church which knows no distinctions of race or class since all are one in Christ.”

Finally, a brown bear loaded with a pack on his back lumbers up the upper right-hand section of the shield. The bear is tied to an old Bavarian legend about the first bishop and patron saint of the Diocese of Freising, Saint Corbinian. According to the legend, when the saint was on his way to Rome, a bear attacked and killed his horse. Saint Corbinian punished the bear by making him carry the saint’s belongings the rest of the way to Rome.

Source: From Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI, 2005 USCCB.

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Participant Profile: Americans in the Papal Delegation

The Holy Father’s delegation on his trip to the United States is scheduled to include five Americans who currently work in the Vatican.

Cardinal Wiliam J. Levada is Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was named to this post by Pope Benedict XVI in May 2005. He was named a cardinal in February 2006. Prior to becoming Prefect, Cardinal Levada served as Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles (1983-1986), Archbishop of Portland (1986-1995), and Archbishop of San Francisco (1995-2005).

Cardinal James F. Stafford is the Major Penitentiary. He became a cardinal in 1998 and was named to his current post in 2003. From 1996 to 2003, he was President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Before he left the United States to serve in Rome, he was Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore (1976-1982), Bishop of Memphis (1982-1986), and Archbishop of Denver (1986-2003).

Archbishop James. M. Harvey is Prefect of the Papal Household. Among other things, he is responsible for the Pope’s schedule and for arranging audiences. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, he has served in his present role since 1998.

Monsignor Peter B. Wells is the head of the English-language section in the Vatican Secretariat of State. A priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, he previously served in Nigeria as part of the Holy See’s diplomatic corps.

Monsignor William V. Millea works in the English section of the Secretariat of State. In addition, he works for the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. He is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

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If You Are Attending an Event

If you are attending one of the papal visit events, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Read any instructions received with your ticket very carefully and follow them exactly.
• Make sure you have government-issued photo identification with you.
• Allow extra time to get from place to place and bring plenty of patience.
• If you are attending the Mass at Nationals Park or the Mass at Yankee Stadium, gather the religious articles that you would like to have blessed by the Holy Father.
• Prepare for your journey with prayer and reflection.
• After the visit, share your experience with people in your parish and diocese.  You can also share your experience in the comments on this blog.

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Participant Profile: Behind the Music

The liturgies for the papal visit will include music that “brings from [the] storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52). It includes ancient chants, settings composed for this visit, and hymns familiar to Catholics across the United States and around the world.

Tracy McDonnell has directed music at Saint Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md., since 1991. She will direct the Intercultural Choir for the Mass at Nationals Park. This choir includes eighty vocalists and instrumentalists, representing 35 countries of origin. Ms. McDonnell noted that looking at the choir members is like “looking at and worshipping with the Universal Church.” She noted that music is a universal language that helps to bridge cultural gaps and adds that, “it is an honor, not just to worship at a Mass when the Pope is presiding, but to represent the people of the Archdiocese [of Washington which is] so culturally rich.”

Robert LeBlanc, currently the music director at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, composed four miniatures (short musical compositions) on the theme of the Gloria. Hopefully, these selections will help the congregation become familiar with the refrain so that they can participate in singing it more fully. In addition, he wrote the music for the anthem “Spirit of God.” He said, “It was a great honor to be asked. It’s a challenge to write something for a specific purpose that is musically worthwhile, but I enjoy such a challenge.” Mr. LeBlanc does have some experience with papal liturgies. Some of his music was used for Pope John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans.

Father John Foley, S.J., is director of the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University. His composition, “Take, Lord, Receive,” will be used at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, when Pope Benedict meets with young people, including some with disabilities and their caregivers. Father Foley explained that the text of the song comes from the writing of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). He said that using the song for this meeting is “terrific and exactly what Ignatius would want. The prayer says that God has given us everything and so we are to give all back to him, since all we need is God’s grace.”

Dr. Leo Nestor is the Justine Bayard Ward Professor and Director of the Institute of Sacred Music in the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at the Catholic University of America. He created the setting for “Lord, You Give the Great Commission,” that will be used as the recessional hymn for the Mass at Nationals Park. Dr. Nestor, too, has written music for past papal visits (1987 and 1999) he says that this opportunity is “a singular honor…. The greatest gift a composer in the Church can receive is to witness whatever liturgical-spiritual efficacy the work may have upon the people singing, hearing, imbibing the music. I am not certain that this is a measurable entity: it resides in the relationship between the singer-hearer and Him to whom the words are sung. Beyond that, it is God who continues the work begun in us.”

Dr. Jennifer Pascual is Director of Music Ministries at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. She will be directing the music at the ecumenical event at Saint Joseph’s Church in Yorkville and for the Masses at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and Yankee Stadium. In addition, she composed the psalm settings that will be used at these Masses. She said that this opportunity is “one of the highlights of her career and her faith.” Since the Holy Father and Cardinal Egan, the Archbishop of New York, are both classically trained pianist, it is a musical highlight as well. She hopes that the music selected will help to create a “wonderful liturgical and spiritual experience” and that it “touches everyone in some way.”

Jeffrey Honoré is the director of music at Saint Benedict’s Parish in Milwaukee, WI. He composed the multilingual setting of the Agnus Dei that will be used at Nationals Park. While he was excited to learn that his composition had been selected, he added that it is “humbling when you think of all the music that has been prayed over the centuries. This ancient text being sung at this visit is a gift of God through your pen that connects you in a different way with all those who have gone before.”

Jaime Cortez, a liturgical musician in the Diocese of Phoenix, said that it is a “great honor” to have a piece of music selected. Even more, it is a “wonderful honor to be a voice for the wonderful, loving Hispanic community in the United States.” His composition, “Ven Espiritu Santo,” will be used during the Preparation of the Gifts at the Mass at Nationals Park. The text for this song comes from the sequence for Pentecost while the music reflects the upbeat rhythms of the Andes, praising God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Brother Rufino Zaragoza, OFM, composed “My God and My All,” one of the Communion hymns for the Mass at Nationals Park. Brother Zaragoza is currently in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), working on a bilingual Vietnamese/English hymnal that includes this song. He said that the hymn’s refrain comes from a prayer chant, used by Saint Francis of Assisi. He added, “Far away from home, in a country that offers no news about the Pope’s visit to the U.S., I am deeply touched that somehow the words of Saint Francis would be sung by Americans at the Mass in Nationals Park. Francis prayed that he might offer his all to the Holy One, and in his simplicity and poverty, that he could receive all that the Holy One offers all to his beloved. Somehow this simple song found its way into the Papal Celebration. I think Saint Francis would be happy. Wish I could be there to join my fellow Americans in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI.”

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The Pallium

Pope Benedict XVI, like all the Latin-rite archbishops in union with him, wears a pallium over his chasuble when celebrating Mass. These circular woolen neckpieces are decorated with six black crosses, with two tails hanging in front and in back.

The pallium is made from the wool of lambs blessed by the pope on January 21, the memorial of Saint Agnes. The name “Agnes” is the feminine form of the Latin word “agnus” meaning “lamb.” After being woven, the palliums are kept in a special place near the altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica, over the tomb of Saint Peter. The wool recalls Jesus’ words to Peter: “Feed my lambs.”

Each year, in a special ceremony on the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29), the Pope gives the pallium to any archbishop named during the preceding year.

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