Pope Benedict Visits the Park East Synagogue

On April 18, Pope Benedict became the first Pope to visit a U.S. synagogue, making a brief visit to the Park East Synagogue in New York. He was welcomed by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a Holocaust survivor. Children from the Park East Day School sang three Hebrew songs.

The Holy Father gave the following greeting:

Shalom! It is with joy that I come here, just a few hours before the celebration of your Pesah, to express my respect and esteem for the Jewish community in New York City. The proximity of this place of worship to my residence gives me the opportunity to greet some of you today. I find it moving to recall that Jesus, as a young boy, heard the words of Scripture and prayed in a place such as this. I thank Rabbi Schneier for his words of welcome and I particularly appreciate your kind gift, the spring flowers and the lovely song that the children sang for me. I know that the Jewish community make a valuable contribution to the life of the city, and I encourage all of you to continue building bridges of friendship with all the many different ethnic and religious groups present in your neighborhood. I assure you most especially of my closeness at this time, as you prepare to celebrate the great deeds of the Almighty, and to sing the praises of Him who has worked such wonders for his people. I would ask those of you who are present to pass on my greetings and good wishes to all the members of the Jewish community. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The visit concluded with an exchange of gifts. Pope Benedict gave the Jewish community a gift: a copy of a page taken from an illuminated 15th-century manuscript from the Vatican Library. The page shows a traditional Jewish wedding. The Synagogue’s gifts to Pope Benedict included a bouquet of flowers and a large seder plate illustrating the journey “from slavery to freedom.

Pope Benedict Greets the UN Staff

Following his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI met with several officials of the United Nations and visited the Meditation Room in the United Nations headquarters.

Later, Pope Benedict extended his greetings to the staff of the United Nations Organization. He compared the United Nations with the Holy See in that both are contained in small geographic areas yet have impact around the world.

The Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the important work done by this staff. He remembered especially those who died in the field. The staff of the United Nations is a microcosm of the world, each person making an indispensable contribution to the good of the human family by monitoring governments’ fulfillment of their responsibility to protect their citizens.

Pope Benedict closed his remarks by offering his prayers for the staff and their families as they continue to serve the human family.

The complete text of the Holy Father’s greetings are here.

Pope Benedict XVI Addresses the United Nations General Assembly

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization at the organization’s headquarters in New York. Pope Benedict is the third Pope to address the United Nations, following Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. (Pope John Paul II addressed the United Nations twice, in 1979 and in 1995.)

Upon arriving at the United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI was welcomed by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Srgjan Kerim. Before addressing the General Assembly, Pope Benedict met privately with the Secretary-General.

The Holy Father began his address in French before switching to English. He noted that the founding principles of the United Nations – the desire for peace, a sense of justice, respect for the dignity of the human person, and cooperation and humanitarian assistance — are just aspirations of the human spirit. The Holy See shares an interest in these principles.

Questions of security, development, reducing inequality, and care of the environment require collective action in good faith for the common good. While scientific and technological advances can be of great help, some can rob the human person and the family of their identity. He called on the international community to act with juridical means when needed to safeguard human rights.

The Holy Father spoke of the critical importance of protecting human rights, noting the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Promoting human rights is the most effective strategy for reducing inequality and increasing security. Human rights are not simply a matter of law, but of justice, based in the natural law written on the human heart.

Once again, the Holy Father spoke of the importance of dialogue between religions as a way of building consensus in service of the common good. He emphasized the importance of freedom of religion in its public as well as its private dimension.

Pope Benedict said that the Catholic Church wishes to offer her proper contribution to international relations, making available her centuries of experience. He concluded his address by greeting the assembly in all the official languages of the United Nations, wishing them peace and prosperity with God’s help.

The assembly responded to his address with a standing ovation..

The complete text of the Holy Father’s address is here.

Arrival in New York

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Brooklyn (the location of JFK Airport) less than an hour after he departed from Washington, D.C. Cardinal Edward Egan welcomed the Holy Father to New York.

Other persons greeting the Holy Father included Bishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, Bishop William F. Murphy, bishop of Rockville Centre, Bishop Gregory John Mansour, eparch of Saint Maron of Brooklyn for Maronites, Bishop Manuel Batakian, eparch of Our Lady of Nareg in New York for Armenian Catholics, Bishop Thomas V. Daily, bishop emeritus of Brooklyn, and state and local leaders, including New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg.

The Holy Father was greeted with cheers from the waiting crowd and music performed by a band.

Shortly after arrival, Pope Benedict left by helicopter for the headquarters of the United Nations.

Departure from Washington, D.C.

Pope Benedict XVI left Washington, D.C. this morning aboard Shepherd One. A small delegation, including Archbishop Wuerl and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty were at Andrews Air Force Base to see him off.

The flight left at approximately 8:45 a.m. EDT for the short flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Pope Benedict Offers Passover Greetings

Following the interreligious gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, Pope Benedict XVI gathered with members of the Jewish community to offer greeting on the occasion of Passover. (Passover will begin at sunset on Saturday, April 20.)

Pope Benedict greeted the representatives gathered, stopping to share brief conversations and take photographs.

The Holy Father re-affirmed the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on Catholic-Jewish relations and reiterated the Church’s commitment to dialogue with Judaism. He also reflected on the meaning of Passover. He concluded by expressing a shared hope for peace in the Middle East and the Holy Land.

The complete text of Pope Benedict’s message to the Jewish community is here.

Pope Benedict Meets with Interreligious Leaders

Following his address to Catholic educators at the Catholic University of America, Pope Benedict XVI traveled by Popemobile to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

At the Cultural Center, the Holy Father addressed over two hundred individuals representing five religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. He was welcomed by Bishop Richard J. Sklba, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Pope Benedict XVI gave a brief address. He thanked those leaders who offered written reflections on how their religions bear witness to peace. He spoke of the long and fruitful history of interreligious collaboration in the United States. The freedom of religion that marks the United States shows that religion and freedom are linked intimately. The presence and transmission of religious traditions preserves a rich heritage and nourishes the surrounding culture.

Pope Benedict stated that the primary purpose of interreligious dialogue is to help discover the truth and to address the deepest questions of human existence. Calm and candid discussion of differences as well as commonalities must take place in pursuit of peace and the truth.

The Holy Father then received symbols of peace presented by five young adults from the represented religions. (The presenters and their gifts were profiled earlier in this blog.) The Holy Father spent a few moments in dialogue with each presenter and gave each presenter a token of his esteem. He then greeted ten religious leaders representing the five religions.

The gathering ended with a choral rendition of the Peace Prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi.

The complete text of Pope Benedict’s address is available here.

The Holy Father Addresses Catholic Educators

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities as well as diocesan education officials this evening at the Catholic University of America (CUA). Upon arriving at the Edward J. Pryzbla University Center, he was greeted by Archbishop Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, Bishop William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport and chairman of the CUA Board of Trustees, and Father David O’Connell, CM, the President of CUA. Thousands of CUA students, faculty, and staff, as well as other faithful, gathered outside to welcome the Holy Father with loud cheers. The Holy Father smiled and waved to the crowds.

While waiting for the Holy Father, the educators heard several musical selections from CUA students.

In his address to the educators, Pope Benedict stressed the importance of education in spreading the Gospel. Every Catholic educational institution should be a place for encountering the living Jesus Christ. This encounter should lead to lives of Christian witness. God’s revelation points toward truth and the power of God’s truth should permeate Catholic educational institutions.

The Holy Father spoke warmly of the history of Catholic education in the United States and emphasized that the sustainability of Catholic educational institutions must be assured and that these institutions must remain accessible to people of all social and economic strata.

Pope Benedict then addressed the particular benefit that Catholic education brings to the Church and to society. Catholic universities and schools help to build a communal identity, founded in the truth revealed by Christ and finding expression in liturgy, prayer, and acts of charity and justice. While Catholic schools have engaged the intellect, they must also engage the will, inflaming the desire for true freedom which has its origin and end in God. Educational institutions must be imbued with the ecclesial life of faith.

Catholic universities and schools help to fulfill the Church’s mission to speak the truth, including in the public forum. Recognizing that faith and reason can never be at odds, speaking the truth can help to bring about consensus while never abandoning categories of right and wrong.

Truth means more than knowledge. It leads to the good and to a life-changing response. Leading young people to truth is an act of love.

Pope Benedict thanked the educators for their professionalism, dedication, and generosity. He reaffirmed the principle of academic freedom, but noted that it cannot be used to justify teaching that contradicts the faith of the Church. Inside and outside the classroom, Catholic educational institutions must provide formation in Catholic doctrine and practice.

The Holy Father offered special encouragement to teachers of catechesis and encouraged religious orders not to abandon their commitment to schools, especially in poorer areas.

Pope Benedict closed his talk with words of inspiration: “Bear witness to hope. Nourish your witness with prayer. Account for the hope that characterizes your lives (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) by living the truth which you propose to your students. Help them to know and love the One you have encountered, whose truth and goodness you have experienced with joy.”

The educators greeted the Holy Father’s address with a standing ovation.

The complete text of the Holy Father’s address is available here.

Mass at Nationals Park

This morning, Pope Benedict celebrated the Eucharistic Liturgy at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

The gates opened and people began to gather at 6:00 a.m. They were greeted by music representing the cultural diversity present in the Archdiocese of Washington. In addition, priests were available for those who wished to receive the Sacrament of Penance.

The procession of the clergy began at 8:30. The procession of the bishops began at 9:00 a.m. More than 1,300 priests and 250 bishops from around the country came to celebrate the Mass with the Holy Father. Prelude music was provided by four choirs (the Papal Choir, the Intercultural Choir, the Gospel Choir, and the Children’s Choir) as well as an orchestra, a handbell choir, a brass choir, and other instrumentalists. The music sung during the prelude and the liturgy used more than 10 languages. The final song before the entrance hymn was “We Are One in the Spirit,” a traditional spiritual led by opera singer Denyce Graves.

Homily at Nationals Park

The Holy Father’s homily as Nationals Park is now available online here. A fuller post on this liturgy will be posted when the Mass ends.