Under a beautiful blue sky, Pope Benedict celebrated Mass in the morning at Nationals Stadium in DC. The crowd of over 46,000 participants was both joyous and reverent. The text of the homily is available here in English and in Spanish. Interestingly, the Pope preached in both languages.
Later in the day, the Pope met with the heads of Catholic colleges and universities. This was a much anticipated gathering. Would the Pope come to draw a hard line and chastise the Catholic educators? Such rumors abounded before the trip. The presentation itself, however, was filled with respect, with hope, with gratitude, and with a call to continue working to form the entire student, not just the intellect of the students. The complete text can be viewed in English and in Spanish. As Pope Benedict noted, the US has many excellent, public academic institutions. Catholic academic institutions have a unique role in also sharing the Good News. “A university or school’s Catholic identity is not simply a question of the number of Catholic students. It is a question of conviction . . . Is the faith tangible in our universities and schools? Is it given fervent expression liturgically, sacramentally, through prayer, acts of charity, a concern for justice, and respect for God’s creation?” Pope Benedict also touched on the dangers of individualism and relativism, common themes in his talks. He challenged Catholic educators, “While we have sought diligently to engage the intellect of our young, perhaps we have neglected the will.” The Pope laid out a signpost for Catholic universities, “Clearly, then, Catholic identity is not dependent upon statistics. Neither can it be equated simply with orthodoxy of course content. It demands and inspires much more: namely that each and every aspect of your learning communities reverberates within the ecclesial life of faith.” It is only by helping students to fully understand, grasp, and live the Good News that we fulfill our mission in Catholic education.
Afterwards, Pope Benedict gave a presentation to representatives of other religions. He praised dialogue among diverse faiths and traditions. And he also praised the value of religious freedom which is a part of the foundation of democracy in the US. And he called all to further dialogue, understanding, deeper search for truth, and also to continue working together to build a better society. “I…invite all religious people to view dialogue not only as a means of enhancing mutual understanding, but also as a way of serving society at large. By bearing witness to those moral truths which they hold in common with all men and women of goodwill, religious groups will exert a positive influence on the wider culture, and inspire neighbors, co-workers and fellow citizens to join in the task of strengthening the ties of solidarity.” The complete text is available here in English and in Spanish.
