Pope Benedict XVI Visits America

(April 15-20, 2008)

April 15, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI arrived today at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. President George Bush and First Lady Laura, accompanied by their daughter, Jenna, warmly welcomed the Holy Father, as he stepped off an Alitalia jetliner. Among the cheering crowd of well-wishers were hundreds of schoolchildren and Catholic parishioners as well as Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi and church dignitaries. It was the first time that the President met a foreign dignitary at the airport.

This is Pope Benedict’s first official visit to the United States, his eight trip outside Italy. Speaking in Rome, before he embarked on this five-day Apostolic Visit, Pope Benedict expressed the wish that his pastoral visit would be “a special missionary experience (and) a time of spiritual renewal for America…”.

65 million Catholics in America await the pontiff’s visit. Though not known to be as charismatic as his predecessor Pope John Paul (the Great), Pope Benedict is widely recognized as an intellectual giant. Among knowledgeable theologians, Benedict XVI, the university professor and author of over twenty books, enjoys the well-earned reputation as a genius in theological matters.

The Pope will visit Washington and New York, bringing the message to Americans that “Christ (is) Our Hope”. “The intention behind my visit…is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States. At the same time, I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture towards every ecclesial community, and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will. The risen Lord entrusted the Apostles and the Church with his Gospel of love and peace, and his intention in doing so was that the message should be passed on to all peoples”.

Pope Benedict will be celebrating his 81st birthday, April 16th, in Washington, DC, where he will hold an interfaith meeting with Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and representatives of other religions.

In New York, the Pope will visit Ground Zero and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium. He will address the General Assembly of the United Nations, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

”Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as Pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father.

I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings. I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world. Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom, but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another.

Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This “golden rule” is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.

Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends in the United States, I am very much looking forward to being with you. I want you to know that, even if my itinerary is short, with just a few engagements, my heart is close to all of you, especially to the sick, the weak, and the lonely. I thank you once again for your prayerful support of my mission. I reach out to every one of you with affection, and I invoke upon you the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Que la Virgen María les acompañe y proteja. Que Dios les bendiga.

May God bless you all.”



Highlights of Pope Benedict XVII’s Pastoral Visit are as follows:

Washington, D.C. (April 15-17)

Tuesday, April 15 – Arrival at Andrews AFB, Maryland.

Reception at the White House.

Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 PM – Mass at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Evening Prayer with 350 U.S. Bishops

Thursday, April 17 – 10:00 AM – Mass of the Holy Spirit, Nationals Park.

April 17 – Catholic University of America – meeting with heads of more than 200 Catholic colleges and universities and school superintendents of 195 Catholic dioceses, to discuss Catholic Education.

April 17 – Pope John Paul II Cultural Center – meeting with leaders of other religions.

New York (April 18-20)

Friday, April 18 – Address to the United Nations General Assembly

April 18, 6:00 PM – Ecumenical Prayer Service, Parish of St. Joseph, New York, N.Y.

Saturday, April 19, 9:15 AM, Mass for the Universal Church. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York,

April 19, 4:30 PM – St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers, New York – Meeting with Young Catholics and People with Disabilities

April 19, 5:00 PM – Rally and prayer service with Youth and Seminarians

Sunday, April 20, 9:30 AM – Prayer Service at Ground Zero

April 20, 2:30 PM – Mass at Yankee Stadium (Fifth Sunday of Easter), commemorating the Bicentennial Anniversaries of the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Boston, Louisville, New York, and Philadelphia

April 20 – Departure, JFK International.



For more information on the papal visit, link to http:www.uspapalvisit.org

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