VATICAN - Benedict XVI to Metropolitan Archbishops: “In the Year of the Priesthood, may the Pallium be also for priests a symbol and a challenge to build communion with their own bishop, among themselves and with the faithful.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Tuesday 30 June in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI received in audience the new Archbishops on whom he had imposed the Pallium the day before the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The Archbishops were accompanied by members of their families and friends. After recalling that the Pallium is a symbol “of the unity which binds Bishops of the particular Churches to the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome”, the Holy Father expressed warm greetings to those present, “from every continent – he underlined -, showing in a significant manner the face of the Catholic Church spread throughout the world ”. The Pontiff then addressed the Archbishops in different languages.
To the Italians Mgr Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence, Mgr Salvatore Pappalardo, Archbishop of Siracusa and Mgr Domenico Umberto D’Ambrosio, Archbishop of Lecce, the Pope said “we are at the beginning of Year of the Priesthood: strive therefore to be exemplary bishops, zealous and rich in love for the Lord and for your communities. In this way you will be able to guide and firmly sustain your priests, your first co-workers in the pastoral ministry and cooperate effectively to spread the Kingdom of God in the beloved nation of Italy ”.
In French the Pontiff greeted Mgr Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader, Archbishop of Algiers (Algeria), Mgr Pierre-André Fournier, Archbishop of Rimouski (Canada), Mgr Joseph Aké Yapo, Archbishop of Gagnoa (Ivory Coast), Mgr Marcel Utembi Tapa, Archbishop of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Mgr Philippe Ouédraogo, Archbishop of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). “The Pallium is a special sign of communion with the Successor of Peter – said Benedict XVI -. This sign will be also for the priests and the faithful of your dioceses an appeal to increasingly consolidate authentic communion with their Bishops and with all the members of the Church ”.
It was then the turn of the English speaking Metropolitans: Mgr Paul Mandale Khumalo, Archbishop of Pretoria (Sudafrica); Mgr J. Michael Miller, Archbishop of Vancouver (Canada); Mgr Allen Henry Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit (USA); Monsignor Anicetus Bongsu Antonius Sinaga, Archbishop of Medan (Indonesia); Mgr Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale (Ghana); Mgr Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York (USA); Mgr Vincent Gerard Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster (UK); Mgr Robert James Carlson, Archbishop of Saint Louis (USA); Mgr Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok (Tailandia); Mgr George Joseph Lucas, Archbishop of Omaha (USA); Mgr Gregory Michael Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans (USA) and Mgr Patebendige Don Albert Malcom Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka). Greeting the family members, friends and faithful of the respective Archbishop who had "come to pray with them and share their joy on this happy occasion", the Holy Father recalled that the Pallium received from the Successor of Peter “is a sign of communion in faith, love and in the governance of the People of God ”, he also reminded the Archbishops of their “ responsibilities as shepherds after the heart of Jesus”.
Then came the turn of Spanish speaking Metropolitan Archbishops : Mgr Domingo Díaz Martínez, Archbishop of Tulancingo (Messico) ; Mgr Manuel Felipe Díaz Sánchez, Archbishop of Calabozo (Venezuela); Mgr José Luis Escobar Alas, Archbishop of San Salvador (El Salvador); Mgr Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Valencia (Spain); Mgr Víctor Sánchez Espinosa, Archbishop of Puebla de los Ángeles (Mexico); Mgr Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla (Messico); Mgr Ismael Rueda Sierra, Archbishop of Bucaramanga (Colombia); Mgr Braulio Rodríguez Plaza, Archbishop of Toledo (Spain). The Holy Father greeted them and he said that the “black silken crosses on the Pallium are a reminder to be every day more like Jesus Christ. Following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, always be signs of unity among your faithful, strengthening your bonds of communion with the Successor of Peter, with your suffragan Bishops and with all those who work with you in your evangelising mission”.
Speaking Portuguese with great joy the Pope greeted the new Metropolitan Archbishops of Brazil: Mgr r Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of Teresina; Mgr Maurício Grotto de Camargo, Archbishop of Botucatu; Mgr Gil Antônio Moreira, Archbishop of Juiz de Fora; Mgr Orani João Tempesta, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. Benedict XVI asked them to carry his greetings to the priests and the faithful of their archdioceses, “so that united in the same faith of Peter, may they contribute to the evangelisation of society”.
The Pope addressed a special greeting to Mgr Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Archbishop of Lviv of the Latins, thanking him “for the service rendered to the Church, as my collaborator, and earlier as a collaborator of my venerated predecessor John Paul II”. To the new Metropolitan of Szczecin-Kamień, Archbishop of Andrzej Dzięga, Benedetto XVI said in Polish: “In the Year of the Priesthood may the Pallium be also for priests a symbol and a challenge to build communion with their own Bishop, among themselves and with the faithful”.
Lastly the Holy Father said hoped the memory of the First Roman martyrs, might foster among all “ever more intense love for Jesus Christ and his Church”, accompanied by the maternal assistance of Mary, Mother of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul and Saint Jean Marie Vianney. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/7/2009; righe 64, parole 845)