Archbishop's Column
The Catholic Transcript - May Issue, 2008

A Visit to Remember

Julius Caesar, the famed Roman general and later dictator, was known to write after a victorious battle, “Veni, vidi, vici,” “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Many centuries later, Jan Sobieski III, King of Poland, led the Christian forces to victory at the crucial Battle of Vienna in 1683, thus preventing further incursion against Christianity from the East. Following the battle he wrote to the Pope at the time, Blessed Innocent XI, “Veni, vidi, Deus vicit,” “I came, I saw, God conquered.”

That expression has been applied, by others, to Pope John Paul II following his many evangelization pilgrimages around the world. With the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States, April 15 to 20, we have seen first hand how the expression may be emphatically applied to him.

From the moment he gingerly descended the steps from the airplane on his arrival, he captivated Washington, New York, and people across the United States who participated by way of the electronic media. At every site his impact was immediate. The roar of the crowds, the enormous ovations, the exuberant waving of countless flags, the happiness on every face bespoke profound respect for him and for his sacred office.

For someone who had lived quietly as a university professor and Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for several years, he surprised many observers by his easy accommodation to so much excitement. His humility, gentleness, and contagious joy of spirit were unmistakable. More than one participant said quietly, “I like the way he prays.” That is probably his secret.

He came to know the United States better, and our country came to know him better. Perhaps we know ourselves better as a result.

Our society is marked at times by a forgetfulness of God, and the Holy Father addressed that phenomenon. The response to his cultivated reflections and the explosive excitement of the visit revealed how deep are our spiritual yearnings. We are after all spiritual beings to the bone narrow, the DNA, the aquifer of our existence.

His days here were packed with events, many of a spectacular nature: visit to the White House, address to the Bishops, address to university presidents and superintendents of schools, interreligious gathering, Mass at Nationals Park, address to the United Nations, ecumenical service, visit to a synagogue, Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, rally for seminarians and youth, Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Then there were the more reserved moments: meeting with victims of clergy sexual abuse, blessing of youngsters suffering from cancer, prayer service with youngsters having various disabilities, meeting with the ailing Avery Cardinal Dulles, praying at Ground Zero.

The schedule revealed a recurring rhythm of clamor and silence, of joy and serious reflection.

The Holy Father was out front on the issue of sexual abuse by clergy of minors. He raised the matter with reporters on the plane flying to the United States and repeated his concerns during his formal addresses. He stated clearly that this experience has caused deep shame for the Church. He spoke of the pain it has brought to the victims and communities at large and underlined the priority of showing compassion and care to the victims. At the same time he praised the outstanding work of the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America.

Pope Benedict pointed out that the Church’s efforts both to heal and to protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under the pastoral care of the Church but for all society. I believe that he was referring here to the fact that sexual abuse of minors is a huge societal issue. Polls in our country indicate that tens of millions of minors in our country have been sexually abused and people are not aware of the extent of the evil. (If one could sue the state, the numbers might become clearer.) Clergy have been a small fraction of the problem. One case, however, is one case too many.

The Holy Father went on to speak about secularism in our time and the need to focus on authentic moral values to underpin our society. He highlighted the centrality of the family and the importance of all to work together for moral renewal and a sound formation for our young people.

In his address to the United Nations he left an indelible impression by developing the theme of universal human rights, based on the natural law, the common origin of the human person, and the dignity of every human life. He drew much worldwide attention when he stated that when individual nations fail to protect the rights of their citizens, the international community must intervene.

The Holy Father praised the practice of the faith in our country, pointing out in particular the generosity shown here to people in need both in the United States and around the world. He reminded us that we are blessed with considerable cultural diversity and people who bring wide-ranging gifts to the service of the Church and society at large. He emphasized strongly the importance of prayer, privately and liturgically, and active support for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Pope Benedict himself brought us rich gifts. The depth of his insights, the extraordinary intelligence of his convictions, and the precise articulation of his teaching have left us a rich legacy of documentation to study, to discuss, and to pray over for a long time to come.
At the youth rally he addressed young people, seminarians, and all of us. He spoke about the virtue of hope, reminding us that hope can only reach its full potential when founded on God. Our absolutes are developed in God’s love. There is a difference between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, love and hate.

Pope Benedict came, he saw, and God conquered. “Amor vincit omnia,” “love conquers all.” God is love. We thank the Holy Father for the many ways, spectacular and quiet, he has reminded us of that fundamental and exciting truth.