Wednesday, April 16 was a busy day for Pope Benedict XVI visiting Washington, DC. Not only was it his birthday, but the Pope also met with President Bush and with all of the US Bishops.
In a mid-morning ceremony at the White House, President Bush warmly welcomed Pope Benedict. President Bush’s remarks are available here. The President told the Pope, “In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred… In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this ‘dictatorship of relativism’… In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but in a spirit of mutual support.”
The full text of Pope Benedict’s response is available here in English and in Spanish. The Pope eloquently recognized America’s quest for freedom throughout history and how it has been linked to a moral order that recognizes God as Creator. The Pope also noted that Americans, by their actions, recognize that “freedom is not only a gift but also a summons to personal responsibility.”
In meeting with the US Bishops, the Pope touched on many topics — welcoming immigrants, the rich diversity within the US, the generosity and contributions made by Americans especially in times of crisis, and the respect for freedom of religion that is so rooted in US history.
The Pope then challenged the bishops to examine how to counter the influence of materialism and how to help Catholics deepen their living relationship with Christ. He emphasized the value of community as opposed to unchecked individualism. The Pope encouraged the bishops to maintain and expand education opportunities, both in schools and in adult faith formation. He also encouraged the bishops to speak more vocally in the public square. He extolled the values of marriage and family life. The Pope also directly addressed the sex abuse scandal within the Church and the need to protect the vulnerable wherever they are. He encouraged the bishops to build a closer relationship with the priests within each diocese. The Pope ended by encouraging prayer. The full text of the Pope’s speech to the bishops is available in English and in Spanish.
Pope Benedict then responded to questions from the bishop on the increasing secularism and relativism in intellectual life, on the quiet attrition as some Catholics practice less and less, and on the decline in vocations to the priesthood. The Pope’s responses are available here in English and in Spanish.
Posted by APWeb 
