Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “My trip has above all two objectives. The first objective is the visit to the Church in America, in the United States. There is a particular motive: The Diocese of Baltimore, 200 years ago, was elevated to the status of metropolis and at the same time, four other dioceses were born -- New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Louisville... Second objective, the visit to the United Nations. Also here there is a particular motive: 60 years have passed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is the anthropological base, the founding philosophy of the United Nations, the human and spiritual base on which it is constructed. Thus it is really a moment of reflection, a moment to again become aware of this important stage in history.” This was how the Holy Father Benedict XVI resumed the two main reasons for his pastoral visit to the United States of America, responding to journalists during his flight from Rome to Washington.
In response to a question on the grave issue of the sexual abuse cases, the Holy Father said, “It is a great suffering for the Church in the United States and for the Church in general, for me personally... I am ashamed and we will do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen in future.” Benedict XVI them mentioned the Church’s intention to take action on three levels: first, on the level of justice and the political level. “We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry; it is absolutely incompatible and who is really guilty of being a pedophile cannot be a priest... These are the two sides of justice: one, that pedophiles cannot be priests and the other, to help in any possible way the victims. Then, there's a pastoral level. The victims will need healing and help and assistance and reconciliation... the bishops and the priests and all Catholic people in the United States will do whatever possible to help, to assist, to heal.” The third point touched on the formation of seminarians, that it be spiritually, humanly, and intellectually profound. “Only sound persons can be admitted to the priesthood and only persons with a deep personal life in Christ and who have a deep sacramental life... because it is more important to have good priests than to have many priests.”
In reference to the enormous growth in Hispanic presence in the Church in the United States, on the anti-immigration movements, and on the unstable situation of many immigrants, the Pope said: “I certainly will touch on this point... I have seen the amplitude of this problem, above all the grave problem of the separation of families. And this is truly dangerous for the social, moral and human fabric of these countries... The fundamental solution is that there would no longer exist the need to emigrate because there would be in one's own country sufficient work, a sufficient social fabric, such that no one has to emigrate... Besides this, short-term measures: It is very important to help the families above all... all that is possible must be done to work against the instability of the situations and against all the violations, and to help so that they can have a truly dignified life where they find themselves in this moment.”
In response to a question on the public recognition of religion in the United States, the Holy Father affirmed that in the United States, “they began with a positive concept of secularism, because this new people was formed by communities and people who had fled from the state churches and wanted to have a lay state, secular, that would open possibilities to all confessions, for all the types of religious exercise. In this way, an intentionally secular state was born: They were against a state church. But the state should be secular precisely out of love for religion in its authenticity, which can be lived only with liberty. And in this manner we find this mix of a state that is intentionally and decidedly secular, but precisely because of a religious will, to give authenticity to religion... This seems to me a fundamental and positive model.”
The Holy Father also spoke on the role of the United Nations in safeguarding the principles held as "non-negotiables" by the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI responded: “That is precisely the objective of the United Nations: that it safeguard the common values of humanity, upon which the peaceful coexistence of the nations is based: the observance of justice and the development of justice. I have already briefly mentioned that it seems to me very important that the basis of the United Nations be precisely the idea of human rights, of the rights that express non-negotiable values, that come before all institutions and are the basis of all institutions.”
In conclusion, the Pope expressed his sentiments on his apostolic trip, with these words: “I go to the United States with joy! I have been in the United States various times before; I am familiar with this great country; I am familiar with the great vivacity of the Church despite all the problems and I am content to be able to meet, in this historical moment both for the Church and for the United Nations, this great people and this great Church.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/4/2008; righe 63, parole 883)
