BREAKING NEWS FROM THE CATHOLIC HERALD
Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Journey to the USA, 2008

This is a legacy page: the event it was covering has now finished. Suggestions, corrections and feedback can still be addressed to mark@catholicherald.co.uk.

We welcome readers of the excellent blogs by Joanna Bogle, Fr Ray Blake, Fr Z, Fr Tim Finigan, Fr Dwight Longenecker, Damian Thompson and Adele and Doug. We hope you enjoy our coverage of the Pope's momentous American visit.

The Last Word from Fr. Dwight Longenecker
22 April 2008

Now that Pope Benedict has headed back to the Vatican, the American press are busy analysing his visit. On Sunday the Pope visited Ground Zero – the site of the World Trade Centre bombing in 2001. After praying and meeting survivors, and meeting young people at a New York seminar, the Pope went on to celebrate Mass in Yankee stadium for 57,000 Catholics. Videos of the New York events are available on EWTN's excellent website.

Most commentators are agreed that the Pope's apostolic visit was a triumph, but just what does it mean for the American Church? Peter Steinfels opines in the New York Times, that “Today the Roman Catholic Church in the United States is on the verge of either an irreversible decline or a thoroughgoing transformation”. It may not be ‘either-or’. The Pope believes that the Church will decrease in numbers, but increase in commitment, zeal and dynamism. In other words, there may be both a decline and a transformation: “quality not quantity”.

Steinfel’s article is posted on the New York Times faith blog. It’s a great stop with rabbis, feminists, Catholics and Protestants all posting. The combox is open and readers make their own trenchant comments, exhibiting the vitality of religious debate in the United States, and confirming one of the things Pope Benedict most likes about our country – it’s robust religious freedom.

That religious freedom allows people to say what they want about the papal visit, and David Gibson, writing on the religious website Beliefnet, thinks that the pope’s visit won’t really change things that much because people will respond to it according to their already held assumptions. Gibson writes: “Reactions to the Pope's visit will break down along the lines of those who see the Church’s (and the world's) problems as traceable to a weakness of faith, and thus best healed by an exhortation to greater faith, and those who see the Church itself as in need of repair.”

This is code for a deeper division within modern Catholicism: between those who believe the Church is a divine institution established to administer everlasting salvation and those who think it is a human construct whose mission it is to change the world. The former believe we all need to pray, pay and obey more. The latter think the Church should change according to our needs.

Unfortunately, the opinions of the press on the Pope’s visit are also marred by a predictable reliance on their own underlying secular assumptions. Too many of the commentators acknowledge the pope’s success, but say, “Yes but...” only to continue their whine about the great number of Catholics who are still unhappy with celibacy of priests, lack of women’s ordination, the ban on artificial birth control etc. etc. etc.

Time magazine has an excellent and detailed assessment of the visit and Newsweek covers the five days with intelligent analysis. Meanwhile John Thavis, writing for the Catholic News Service offers the most concise and objective summary of the Pope’s visit to America. He says the pope has accomplished three things: 1. closure to the sex abuse scandal 2. a moral challenge to America 3. a call for unity amongst Catholics.

Time will tell just how the visit will change the American Church in the long term, but if my own personal perspective matters, I can attest that the Pope’s visit brought renewal, inspiration and strength of resolve.

If that 80-year-old man can take up the heavy burden of the papacy, then maybe, just maybe I can make a few more sacrifices myself for the sake of the kingdom.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is Chaplain to St Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville, South Carolina.

Thank you to our readers
21 April 2008

Thank you for following the Pope's historic visit to America with The Catholic Herald. We will be keeping this page online for the foreseeable future, so feel free to share the link: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/papalvisit08/.

Pope pays tribute to American hospitality
20 April 2008

Benedict XVI paid tribute to American hospitality shortly before he left the United States last night. In his last speech before leaving America, the Pope said he "deeply appreciated" the country's warm response to his first papal visit. Here is his farewell address at JFK airport in full.

Pope's homily at Yankee Stadium gives overview of American Church
20 April 2008

In his homily during Holy Mass at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, Pope Benedict ranged widely over the history of the Church in America. The congregation listened attentively, interupting with a roar of agreement when the Holy Father referred to the need to defend "the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb". Fr Richard John Neuhaus, commentating for EWTN, described this as the Pope's first explicit reference to abortion during his trip.

Benedict XVI prays at Ground Zero
20 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI visits the World Trade Centre site on Sunday in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In one of the most poignant moments of his American visit, Benedict XVI paused this morning at Ground Zero. There he met rescue workers, survivors and those who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001 attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. He prayed for the conversion to love "of those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred".

Pope Benedict's prayer (click here for the full text) has aroused much discussion on the web. The veteran religion correspondent Tom Heneghan offers one take on it. Terry Mattingly, of the blog Get Religion, offers another.

From our US correspondent, Freddy Gray: An eyewitness report from New York City
19 April 2008

Everybody agreed it was the finest day of the year so far. People squinted and smiled in the bright sunlight. “I guess the Pope is blessing us with the weather,” said a middle-aged woman with a chuckle, covering her brow with her hand. “Just wonderful.”

It was 11 am. In two hours the popemobile would bring Benedict XVI down Fifth Avenue. Thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands - of pilgrims and papal well-wishers were already there. “He’ll be coming the wrong way, you know,” said a wise lady, “Traffic goes that way, you see.”

The crowd was very jolly. People waved cameras, camcorders, various flags, and all sorts of banners. “WE LOVE YOU HOLY FATHER”, “TOTUS TUUS”, “VIVA IL PAPA!” they read. Local parishes had come from across America, bearing their own special greetings. “WELCOME POPE BENEDICT” from Minnesota, from Houston, Kansas, Philadelphia, and so on. And other nationalities were there: I heard Spanish, German, French and several other languages.

Reporters could use every papal-visit cliché going: carnival atmosphere? Tick; as though they were expecting a rock-star? Tick; colourful, racially diverse crowd? Absolutely. I stood by a large crowd of Hispanics from the Neocatechumenal Way. They strummed guitars, banged drums, and sang wildly about their Lord and Saviour “Jesu Christe”.

Across the street, on the elegant red-brick balcony of the Knickerbocker Club, stood a smart-looking man with horn-rimmed spectacles. He was wiggling three papal flags in the air and grinning. I walked over to him and shouted some questions. “It is a member’s club,” he said in a French accent, evidently worried I was trying to get in. We barked a bit more at each other in French. “Le Knickerbocker c’est le premier club de New York,” he told me. Ah, l’esprit Catholique.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the occasion was the security. In DC, protection around Benedict XVI had seemed excessive; in New York, it was incredible. There appeared to be one police — to use the east coast singular/plural — for every five members of the public: uniforms, sunglasses and guns everywhere. I asked a heavily armed policewoman if she had used her riot baton. “Not yet,” she said glumly. “But some day…” Clearly Benedict’s message of hope was working.

The heavy presence of the law did not spoil the mood, though. Up and down the street strangers chatted to each other. “I was here for the other one 30 years ago,” said one woman. “Well, this will be the third pope I’ve seen,” said another, not wanting to be outdone. Two fat ladies bickered amicably about calorie counting. A Hispanic girl told me she was unimpressed with the crowd's size. “If we had it Texas, where I’m from, there would be more people, I think. But in Texas there is less diversity… not so many Jews.”

At around 12.30, I settled on a spot outside Temple Emanu-El, the largest house of Jewish worship in the world, opposite Central Park Zoo. Next to me was Margaret, a local. She was heck of a talker, a real scattergun conversationalist. “I’m delighted to be here,” she said, bending her vowels like the lifelong New Yorker that she was. “I sure hope the Pope straightened Bush out… Jackie Kennedy lived right down there… I can’t believe the awful things those priests did with those children… I hope the economy is going to be alright… How’s your Queen doing in England? Shame about Princess Margaret… I guess the Pope’s pretty old, he might die soon.”

Nearby, a loud chant of “Bene-dett-o!” broke out. People formed circles and danced. The minutes passed. An NYPD helicopter clattered about in the cloudless sky. The crowd seemed to quadruple in a matter of seconds. Children climbed up bits of scaffolding. Anticipation infested the air.

A man looked down the street though his camera. “Here he comes,” he said, without enthusiasm. A long way off, the red lights of the motorcade could be seen. A troupe of motorcycles - maybe 30 of them - rumbled towards us. Their engines grew louder and louder. I climbed on to the barrier and saw a rectangular white box jutting out above the rest of the procession. “The popemobile!” someone screamed. This sent us all into paroxysms of ecstasy: “The popemobile! The popemobile!”

Before we came to our senses, there it was: an absurdly shaped vehicle with the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church inside. Benedict XVI waved politely to the crowd, but he looked tired, even a touch embarrassed. He said something to Mgr Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary, and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who both sat opposite him in the bullet-proof box. Mgr Gänswein laughed and Cardinal Bertone raised his hands in the air. They drifted away.

“Awesome! That was Awesome!” said a young man to his friends. “That cardinal distracted him,” muttered Margaret.

The masses dispersed effortlessly into the giant grid of mid-town New York. Camera crews rushed about trying to gauge the vox populi. A reporter crouched down with his microphone in front of a little girl.

“What’s your name?”
“Gabriela”
“Can you spell that for me?”
“G-A-B-I… no.. G-A-B-R-I-E-L-A."
“Ok Gabriela did you see the Pope today?”
“Yes”
“And what did you think?”
“Good”
“Just good?
“Yes. Good.”
“Uh, OK.”

Gabriela’s mother was more effusive. “He’s just so beautiful,” she said. Behind her, two grey-haired New Yorkers in leather jackets discussed Catholicism. “A lot of problems for the Church,” said one. “I gave up on it when I was still young. I still believe in a Supreme Being though. On a day like today, how couldn’t you?”

Comment from Fr. Dwight Longenecker
19 April 2008

Pope Benedict has tried his hardest to satisfy the American public’s desire for more to be done on the child abuse cases, and I think he’s just about there. His meeting in Washington with some of the victims was widely reported. Details are included in the Washington Post’s full coverage of the papal visit.

On Friday the Pope flew to New York. The New York Times picked up the baton and reports fully on his visit to the United Nations, a synagogue, and the Mass for priests and religious on Saturday in St Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of Manhattan.

The Mass in the great neo-Gothic cathedral was as splendid and formal as the Mass at the Nationals Park baseball stadium in Washington was not. The stadium Mass was impressive for the huge numbers (46,000) and the air of celebration, but it was, in the minds of some, a multicultural hodge podge, while for others it was a joyous celebration of the genuine diversity of the American Church.The Mass featured everything from black gospel singers, bongo drums, Andean pipes and Placido Domingo singing Panis Angelicus. Influential conservative priest, John Henry Neuhaus of First Things magazine, commented that no one minds Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese or Mexican food -- but we don’t want it all at the same meal.

The music program for Sunday’s Mass at Yankee stadium has been published, and if the classical musician in Pope Benedict was displeased by Washington’s cultural a la carte, he should be happy with what New York has to offer. It’s almost all classical.

For a man of 81 the Pope has been busy. I have viewed three of his homilies or speeches, and each one was lengthy and weighty. The full texts are available on the websites that are best covering the visit: the US Catholic Bishops’ site, EWTN and many bloggers. At the United Nations he spoke of the importance for policy decisions to be driven by an understanding of basic human rights grounded in the sacredness of each human being. An underlying theme in most of his talks is the importance of the Holy Spirit. The Pope doesn’t strike one as a charismatic in the "happy-clappy, bottom-swaying" sense of charismatic, but he is certainly full of the Holy Spirit, and sees his work and the work of the whole church to be driven by a renewed dependence on the Spirit.

The present pope will not be as widely travelled as the much younger John Paul II, but I believe the reason for his coming to America at this point in time is well thought out. It is clear that he wants to clear up the remaining bad smell of the child abuse scandal and get on with the mission of the Church. His visit here has more than a whiff of triumphalism about it, and the tone is: "We’re still here. We’ve learned our lesson and We’re still open for business, and let’s get on with the job."

This is important, because I believe he sees the salvation of the Church in the West as coming from the United States. He realizes that the American Church is the healthiest, wealthiest and most powerful corner of his vineyard. Europeans may bridle at the truth, but the truth is that the American Catholic Church is young, vibrant and enthusiastic. Pope Benedict will find his most avid supporters here, and he wants to encourage them. The European Church, on the other hand, is increasingly difficult to mobilise. Riven with apathy, mediocre leadership and a sort of weary cynicism, European Catholics need a spiritual adrenalin injection, and it may be that Benedict looks to America to provide it.

The Pope has spoken several times during his visit of a "new springtime" in the Church. Perhaps this visit was his way of watering the seed so that springtime blossoms in the Americas in the 21st century.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is Chaplain to St Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville, South Carolina.

Pope addresses youth and seminarians at St. Joseph's
19 April 2008

The Holy Father has just given this address to the seminarians and youth gathered at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York.

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges cheers from the crowd upon arriving at a youth rally Saturday, April 19, 2008 at St Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pope blesses handicapped children
19 April 2008

Here are the Pope's words to young disabled people and their carers earlier this evening.

Pope Benedict sees 'new springtime' for American Church
19 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, Saturday April 19, 2008.
(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

In a vintage homily at St Patrick's, the Pope paid tribute to the men and women who first evangelised America.

He reflected on the Holy Spirit's descent at Pentecost. "Let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America," he said.

He then expressed a characteristically Benedictine thought: in a society which perceives the Church to be "legalistic" it is all the more necessary "to communicate the joy of faith".

He compared the way many see the Church to someone standing outside a church looking at a stained glass window. From the outside it looks dark and uninspiring.

"It is only from the inside," he said, "from the experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we see the Church as she truly is: flooded with grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the manifold gifts of the spirit. It follows that we, who live the life of grace within the Church's communion, are called to draw all people into this mystery of life."

He talked about the conversion of heart and mind necessary to discern the "signs of the times" and truly implement the vision of the Second Vatican Council.

He said: "For all of us, I think, one of the great disappointments which followed the Second Vatican Council, with its call for a greater engagement in the Church's mission to the world, has been the experience of division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family. We can only move forward if we turn our gaze together to Christ!"

He then addressed the sexual abuse crisis, which has damaged lives and the image of the priesthood. He assured clergy of his continuing spiritual closeness to them.

He encouraged priests and religious to show the way to others by being the first to seek the forgiveness of God and the first to show the humility necessary to approach God. "May you also be the first friend of the poor, the homeless, the stranger, the sick and all who suffer," he said.

He concluded by praying that "the Church in America might enjoy a new springtime". His homily was greeted by deafening applause.

Here is the full text of the homily.

***

UPDATE: Fr James Martin, Benedict XVI's newest fan (scroll down to see why), has described the Pope's homily as "one of the best I've ever heard... Period."

Pope's anniversary, time to reflect on three glorious years
19 April 2008

Today is the third anniversary of Pope Benedict's election. He began the day with Holy Mass at New York's celebrated St Patrick's Cathedral. He was greeted outside the cathedral by Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City. He entered the cathedral to a rousing spontaneous ovation. Even the assembled bishops were on their feet cheering.

The Mass for the congregation of approximately 3,000 deacons, priests and religious from across the United States is the Pope's only official morning engagement. In the early evening he will bless a group of roughly 50 young people with disabilities and their carers at St Joseph's seminary in Yonkers, just a few miles north of New York City.

An hour later he will attend a rally with seminarians and young people at St Joseph Seminary. Approximately 25,000 young Catholics from throughout the US, including 5,000 seminarians, are expected to attend. Pope Benedict will deliver another hotly awaited address, which may give a hint of what young people can expect in a few months' time at World Youth Day in Australia.

Benedict XVI woos liberal priest
19 April 2008

A liberal Catholic priest describes how Benedict XVI has won him over during his American visit. "When Pope Benedict XVI first stepped on to the Vatican balcony after his election, I felt like jumping off of one," Fr James Martin writes. "But today, as I watched him greet the Jewish congregation with a heartfelt 'Shalom', and especially yesterday, as I read about his extraordinary meeting with sexual abuse victims, I felt something shift within me."

Bush speaks about welcoming Pope
19 April 2008

In this video President Bush talks about welcoming Pope Benedict to the White House. He was speaking at the National Catholic Prayer Breafast in Washington on Friday.

Analysis: Pope's address to the UN
19 April 2008

John Thavis at CNS has a good four-point guide to understanding Benedict XVI's subtle and complex address to the UN yesterday.

Holy Father saves sick beaver
19 April 2008

The American Papist has the inside scoop on how the Pope's visit to the UN saved the life of one poor semi-aquatic rodent.

Pope warns agains 'relativistic' approach to doctrine
18 April 2008

Bernice King, left, daughter of Dr Martin Luther King reacts while greeting Pope Benedict XVI at an ecumenical prayer service at St Joseph's parish Friday, April 18, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pope Benedict's speech at the ecumenical prayer service began with a meditation on a passage from St Paul.

He then spoke of two constrasting aspects of globalisation -- a growing sense of connectedness and a widespread cultural fragmentation.

"A faithful witness to the Gospel is as urgent as ever," he said. "Christians are challenged to give a clear account of the hope they hold."

He then criticised radical changes in some Christian communities, which were justified as "prophetic" actions but were in fact deeply damaging to the unity of Christians.

He expressed alarm about "a relativistic approach to Christian doctrine" among some communities and urged Christians to hold fast to the objective truth of Christian dogma and moral teachings. The world, he said, longs for a common Christian witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.

You can read the entirety of the Pope's powerful address here.

Bishop Sullivan welcomes Pope to Yorksville
18 April 2008

Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Sullivan has welcomed the Holy Father at the start of the ecumenical prayer service at St Joseph Parish in Yorkville, New York. Those who have seen the Pope's forthcoming speech describe it as "challenging". "I urge people to listen to his address very carefully," said Fr Richard John Neuhaus on EWTN.

Pope in historic visit to American synagogue
18 April 2008

POPE AND RABBI SCHNEIER IN NEW YORK
Pope Benedict XVI stands with Rabbi Arthur Schneier before he speaks at the Park East Synagogue in New York April 18. (CNS photo/Gary Hershorn, Reuters)

Benedict XVI has just given a short speech at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan during the first ever papal visit to a United States synagogue.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the leader of the congregation, said. “Your visit today to Park East Synagogue, a historic occasion that will be recorded in history forever, is a reaffirmation of your outreach, good will and commitment to enhancing Jewish-Catholic relations. In our lifetime, your holiness, both of us have experienced the ravages of war, the Holocaust, man’s inhumanity to man — and also tasted the joy of freedom.”

The Pope said: "Dear Friends, Shalom! It is with joy that I come here, just a few hours before the celebration of your Pesah, to express my respect and esteem for the Jewish community in New York City. The proximity of this place of worship to my residence gives me the opportunity to greet some of you today. I find it moving to recall that Jesus, as a young boy, heard the words of Scripture and prayed in a place such as this.

"I thank Rabbi Schneier for his words of welcome and I particularly appreciate your kind gift, the spring flowers and the lovely song that the children sang for me. I know that the Jewish community make a valuable contribution to the life of the city, and I encourage all of you to continue building bridges of friendship with all the many different ethnic and religious groups present in your neighbourhood.

"I assure you most especially of my closeness at this time, as you prepare to celebrate the great deeds of the Almighty, and to sing the praises of Him who has worked such wonders for his people. I would ask those of you who are present to pas on my greetings and good wishes to all the members of the Jewish community. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

CNN interview: victims are given the chance to speak out
18 April 2008

CNN has an insightful interview with three participants in the Pope's private meeting with abuse victims yesterday.

Pope addresses UN
18 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges delegates inside the United Nations General Assembly Hall Friday, April 18, 2008 at the United Nations. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

In his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York today Pope Benedict XVI gave his backing to the mission of the UN and said that moral relativism threatened the spread of authentic human rights.

The Holy Father was warmly welcomed as he entered the UN General Assembly at 11 am local time. After a standing ovation from the members, Srgjam Kerim, UN General Assembly president, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Secretary-General, who had earlier spoken in private to the Pontiff, told the Holy Father: “Your Holiness – welcome to your home. Our mission unites us with yours.” He joked that while the UN had 192 nations, six official languages but no official religion, it did have a meditation room.

Thanking the President and Secretary-General for their kind words the Pope spoke of the common goals of peace and development that united the UN and the Holy See.

“As John Paul II expressed in 1995,” he said, “the organisation must be a moral centre where all nations feel themselves at home and feel like a family of nations. Through the UN states have set out universal objectives… the desire for peace, sense of justice, and the dignity of individuals. These are all parts of the realities of the Catholic Church and the Holy See.”

He spoke about the suffering of people in Africa and elsewhere who had “only seen the downside of globalisation” and, in words that will be applauded by most UN members, he said that unilateral action should not be used to solve the world’s problems.

“This is all the more necessary,” he said, “at a time when we experience the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few, whereas the world's problems call for interventions in the form of collective action by the international community.”

Benedict XVI also made a robust appeal for human rights to remain rooted in the insights of natural law. The uncoupling of human rights from natural law, he said, left human beings’ rights unprotected.

“A variety of points of view,” he said, “can never be an excuse for forgetting the universality of human rights and dignity.”

He also made a strong appeal for full religious freedom across the world.

After addressing the chamber in French and English, the Pope told the members he wished them “peace and prosperity with God’s help” in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese Polish and Russian.

Full text of speech available here.

Pope arrives in New York
18 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI is surrounded by members of the clergy and city officials as he arrives at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)

The BBC reports that Pope Benedict XVI has arrived at the United Nations in New York and is preparing to give one of the major speeches of his visit.

From our US correspondent, Freddy Gray: Are the presidential candidates snubbing the Pope?
18 April 2008

Why is it that none of the major presidential candidates has so far commented on the papal visit, yet all three took the time to meet Gordon Brown at the British embassy? John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all skipped yesterday morning's papal Mass to pay homage to the PM. But none of them – as far as I can tell – has even issued a press release to welcome Benedict XVI.

It seemed a little odd that last night, during a long and important television debate between Obama and Clinton, the Pope was not even mentioned. The answer could well be that the Vatican has specifically asked that candidates steer clear of the Pope's visit to avoid accusations that the Church is interfering in the democratic process. So while President Bush milked Benedict's arrival for all he could, his would-be successors have had to keep schtum.

Speaking of Obama, here and here are some fascinating clips of him in 2004, debating with Alan Keyes. The two men were then battling it out to be Senator of Illinois. Keyes, a fierce and frighteningly eloquent Catholic, is wonderful value. He is also quite mad – much more fun than Hillary, though.

Let’s discuss our differences with calmness and clarity, Pope urges faith leaders
18 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI meets with representatives of other religions, including Saman Hussain of the Islam faith, at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, Thursday, April 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Pope Benedict XVI praised the diversity of faiths in the United States during an interfaith gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington last night. "In our attempt to discover points of commonality, perhaps we have shied away from the responsibility to discuss our differences with calmness and clarity," he said. "While always uniting our hearts and minds in the call for peace, we must also listen attentively to the voice of truth." Here is are two accounts of the meeting by USA Today and by Trend News Agency. Read the Pope's speech in full here.

Pope says Catholic universities should think with the Church
18 April 2008

In his speech at the Catholic University of America last night, Benedict XVI said that "teachers and administrators, whether in universities or schools, have the duty and privilege to ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine". Read a report here and here and the full text here.

Benedict XVI meets victims of clerical sexual abuse
18 April 2008

Last night Pope Benedict held an unannounced meeting with victims of sexual abuse by American priests. You can read about it here and here.

Pope pays tribute to Americans as “people of hope” at Nationals Stadium mass
17 April 2008

A crowd of 46,000 packed the Nationals Stadium in Washington today as Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in England and Spanish.

In a distinctly multi-cultural celebration of America and the world’s diversity the Pope paid tribute to America as a land of hope and spoke of the “great promise” of a world where “the human family is drawing together”.

At the start of the celebration, which was surrounded by 21st century-style security (the US secret service cleared the streets around the stadium beforehand), Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington welcomed the Holy Father on behalf of the archdiocese and those who had travelled to attend the Mass from all over the country.

The Archbishop hailed the visit as a moment of “spiritual renewal” and said “we look to you to bring us to Christ and his Gospel of Hope.” He pointed out that they were celebrating not far from where the first Catholics in the colonies that would become the United States celebrated Mass in 1664 in the colony of Maryland – “[a mass that] marked the first in an unbroken line of faith and worship which we hope is made manifest by your visit”.

At the 10 a.m. (Pacific time) mass, the Pope gave his homily in English and Spanish, and paid tribute to Americans, “a people of hope, a country your ancestors came to in hope”.

He offered a message of hope himself when he said: “Who can deny that the present moment is a crossroads… it’s a time of great promise as we see the human family in many ways drawing together. On the other hand we see signs of a disturbing breakdown in our society, signs of alienation, and for many of our contemporaries increased violence.”

Yesterday the Pope attacked the growing secularisation of American society that had led to an explosion of pornography and violence.

Benedict XVI celebrates Mass at Nationals Park, Washington

Addressing the faithful on a 75-ft tall altar the Pope also repeated his sentiments from yesterday about the sex abuse scandals in the church: “No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse...” he said. “Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the church.”

The church has made “great efforts” to “deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation and to ensure that children – whom our Lord loves so deeply and who are our greatest treasure – can grow up in a safe environment. “These efforts to protect children must continue,” he added, urging worshipers to “pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the Church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness and growth in holiness.”

He also asked Catholics to “love your priest, and the firm work they do.”

The event was surrounded by high-level security, after Osama Bin Laden last month said the Pope was engaged in a “new crusade” against Islam. Mass-goers had to go through metal detectors before taking their seats, and backpacks, metal, glass and plastic containers were not allowed.

A full transcript of the homily is available here.

***

Not everyone enjoyed the music at the Pope's open-air Mass today. "Please forgive us, Holy Father," writes one anguished Stateside blogger. "Did the event organizers read anything the Pope has written on sacred music?" asks another.

An interesting backgrounder from Newsweek
17 April 2008

Newsweek has an interesting backgrounder on Pope Benedict's highly anticipated address to the heads of 250 Catholic colleges and universities tonight at the Catholic University of America in Washington. His talk will be streamed live on the CUA web site.

There's no place like Rome
17 April 2008

Canada's National Post answers the question that is gripping North America: Why does the Pope wear red shoes?

Pope addresses US bishops [complete transcript]
17 April 2008

POPE MEETS US BISHOPS AT BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Pope Benedict XVI reaches out to Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk during the pontiff's meeting with U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington April 16. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Here is the full text of Benedict XVI's address to the US bishops last night at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

US sex abuse record attacked by Pope
17 April 2008

The BBC reports that the Pope has criticised the American bishops' handling of the priestly sex abuse scandal.

Comment: First thoughts from Fr. Dwight Longenecker
17 April 2008

Pope Benedict’s apostolic visit to the United States has kicked off a wide range of comment and coverage from the American news media. Predictably, the sex abuse scandal was top of the list. Like a terrier with a slipper, the newshounds won’t let this one go. It’s hard to blame them. The sex abuse story is a true horror, and it will continue to echo through the American Catholic Church for some time to come.

Benedict XVI had the chance to take some reporters’ questions on the plane flight from Italy, and as journalist Colleen Caroll Campbell said, he spoke “bluntly and personally” openly about the sex abuse crisis saying firmly that he was “deeply ashamed” and that pedophiles could never be within the sacred ministry.

Not everybody’s satisfied. The Devil’s Rottweiler — Christopher Hitchen has come out snarling about in an attack on Cardinal Law —the Boston archbishop who handled the sex abuse cases so badly. He agrees with some victim’s groups who think Cardinal Law, as archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore, is still being protected by the Vatican. The New York Times reports that the survivors of sex attacks want also want more action from the Pope. The Times also has a religion blog with notable religious contributors making comment on the papal visit.

So far most of the reporting on the Pope’s American tour has been laudatory and respectful. However, satirical comedian, Bill Maher has gone dirty over the Pope, comparing the Catholic Church to the weird fundamentalist polygamous Mormon cult that is in the news here this week. Maher referred to Pope Benedict as an ex-Nazi, leader of a secretive child abuse cult. Naturally this has got some people riled, and Maher has become the talk of the town.

Talk radio is very big in the USA. Dozens of local stations broadcast opinionated right wing rabble-rousers and take calls from the yokels who are given a chance to exercise their homegrown freedom of speech. Talk show hosts here in the Bible Belt are fielding callers who still regard the Pope as the anti-Christ and the Catholic Church as the ‘great whore of Babylon’.

Other than that the Pope is regarded pretty much as a genial old duffer who is, at least, rather harmless, and at best, a genuinely holy and spiritual man who offers a profound moral lead for the whole world.

President Bush clearly takes the latter view. He has broken protocol precedents by going to the airport with Mrs Bush and one of their daughters to meet the Pope on his arrival. He’s said that the Pope is a man who believes in moral absolutes and CBC news covers the presidential visit saying unremarkably that Bush and the Pope will ‘focus on points of agreement’, and ABC news features the history of presidents and popes meeting. Meanwhile, USAToday reports on the crowds forming this morning in Washington to spot the Pope and they publish the Pope’s speech at the White House.

The father of a colleague at the Catholic High School where I am chaplain is part of the crowd of Catholics who have been invited to the White House today to meet both pope and president. I hope to interview him about the event and report here later in the week.

Fr Dwight Longenecker is Chaplain to St Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville, South Carolina. He is the author of ten books on the Catholic faith and contributes to a wide range of periodicals, papers and websites worldwide.

From our US correspondent, Freddy Gray: An eyewitness report on the Pope's journey through Washington DC
17 April 2008

This evening I went to catch my first glimpse of Benedict XVI in America. The Pope's celebration of vespers in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in northwest DC, was a private event, yet the crowds didn't stay away.

A taxi dropped me in front of a police roadblock. I walked through the barriers and towards the Shrine. It was a clear, bright evening. A gang of Mexicans wearing white ranchero costumes stood on a patch of grass. They showed off their guitars and fiddles, but didn't play anything. Other people moved around, or leant expectantly on the metal girders. In the distance, some tambourines rattled to the tuneless thud of a drum. A disjointed chorus sang “Allelullia” over and over. The pilgrims are terrible litterers: bottles, cans and bits of paper were strewn everywhere. The chaos of Catholicism.

I stood next to two college girls wearing Virginia Tech t-shirts—today was the first anniversary of the mass shooting at that university. They took photographs of everything and got bored. The light began to fade. An orange glow spread around the Byzantine curves of the basilica.

Suddenly, the engines of a motorcade gunned into life.

Something was about to happen. A large black policeman put on a dramatic voice and said, “The Pontiff is leaving the building.” Moments later, the basilica bells began to clang. The crowd grew excited. We looked towards the building, but couldn’t see much.

The convey began to move: two-dozen strangely old motorcycles led the way, followed by maybe 20—I lost count—black jeeps. Then a limousine drifted past, a papal flag fluttering on its bonnet. I looked inside and saw Pope Benedict, leaning forward in his seat, waving from behind the green bullet-proof glass. No point shouting his name.

As soon as the car disappeared, one the Virginia Tech girls pulled out her mobile phone. “There was no popemobile—I’m sorta disappointed,” she said to the person on the other end of the line. “But we are so going to World Youth Day in Australia.”

Benedict XVI's papacy a boon to US-Vatican relations?
16 April 2008

The Economist is carrying a piece arguing that the gap between the Holy See and the Bush administration has narrowed under Pope Benedict.

George W Bush welcomes Pope, wishes him a happy birthday, discusses terrorism
16 April 2008

This the complete text of President George W Bush's remarks welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the South Lawn of the White House today, courtesy of the Catholic News Service:

"Holy Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the White House. We welcome you with the ancient words commended by St. Augustine: 'Pax tecum.' Peace be with you.

"You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well, birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with us. We wish you much health and happiness -- today and for many years to come.

"This is your first trip to the United States since you ascended to the chair of St Peter. You will visit two of our greatest cities and meet countless Americans, including many who have traveled from across the country to see with you and to share in the joy of this visit.

"Here in America you'll find a nation of prayer. Each day millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking his grace and giving thanks for the many blessings he bestows upon us. Millions of Americans have been praying for your visit, and millions look forward to praying with you this week.

"Here in America you'll find a nation of compassion. Americans believe that the measure of a free society is how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable among us. So each day citizens across America answer the universal call to feed the hungry and comfort the sick and care for the infirm. Each day across the world the United States is working to eradicate disease, alleviate poverty, promote peace and bring the light of hope to places still mired in the darkness of tyranny and despair.

"Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of faith in the public square. When our founders declared our nation's independence, they rested their case on an appeal to the "laws of nature, and of nature's God." We believe in religious liberty. We also believe that a love for freedom and a common moral law are written into every human heart and that these constitute the firm foundation on which any successful free society must be built.

Here in America you'll find a nation that is fully modern yet guided by ancient and eternal truths. The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth - it is also among the most religious. In our nation, faith and reason coexist in harmony. This is one of our country's greatest strengths and one of the reasons that our land remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for millions across the world.

"Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope. And America and the world need this message. In a world where some invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that 'God is love'. And embracing this love is the surest way to save men from 'falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism.'

"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that 'each of us is willed, each of us is loved' - and your message that 'each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary.'

"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' and embrace a culture of justice and truth.

"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.'

"Holy Father, thank you for making this journey to America. Our nation welcomes you. We appreciate the example you set for the world, and we ask that you always keep us in your prayers. You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well, birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with us. We wish you much health and happiness - today and for many years to come."

***

The Pope and the President discussed terrorism and human rights during a private meeting after the welcoming ceremony today. "The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents,"a statement issued after their meeting said."They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights."

The Associated Press has the full text of the joint statement by President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI after their private meeting today.

Pope's visit branded 'controversial'
16 April 2008

The American Conservative reports that the Pope's visit was too controversial for some Democratic senators.

From our US correspondent, Freddy Gray: Anti-papal protesters ignored
16 April 2008

The news channels didn't pay too much attention to the 200 anti-papal protestors near the White House. Some were complaining about clerical sex abuse, others held banners saying all Catholics are going to Hell. American Catholics didn't seem too fazed by the threats of damnation. For them, the protesters were a sign of the great diversity of their nation. As my colleague, Michael Brendan Dougherty, a traditionalist, put it: "I kinda love it when Protestants do that."

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