This year the bishops of the United States are making their Quinquennial Visits Ad Limina Apostolorum. This trip to Rome for the bishops of the Northwest is now scheduled from June 20 through 26. I promise to keep you uppermost in my thoughts and my prayers during my days in the Eternal City, and I ask you to pray for me as well.
This event, which normally takes place every five years, has three principal moments. Each one has its own meaning. The first is the pilgrimage to the Tombs of the Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. We bishops will concelebrate the Eucharist together at the Tomb of St. Peter on Vatican Hill Monday morning, and we shall again concelebrate the Eucharist at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls on Thursday afternoon. It is my understanding that this was the original purpose of these visits, a way of evoking in those of us who are their successors the one faith to which they bore witness in Rome by their martyrdom.
The second moment is the meeting with the Successor of Peter, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul. Each diocesan bishop will have an opportunity for a personal visit with the Holy Father. Toward the end of the week we bishops will gather with the pope for his final exhortation and a special blessing.
The time with the Holy Father is not intended simply as an exchange of information. It is meant to be an affirmation and the consolidation of our collegiality as pastors of the one flock of Christ. I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like for the pope to meet with bishops from all over the world. How diverse are the circumstances of our lives. How unique the challenges of our evangelizing mission in each local church. Yet how vital is the bond of unity that is ours in Christ, the true Vine who by word and sacrament sustains the branches. This year we shall not have an opportunity to concelebrate the Eucharist with our Holy Father. That is a bit of a disappointment. But we certainly will be united with him in prayer.
The third moment of the visit Ad Limina is the meeting with the various offices of the Roman Curia. There we will have an opportunity to discuss some matters that are of common pastoral concern. We bishops of the Northwest have requested appointments with four of the dicasteries. Individual bishops may pursue matters of particular concern to their ministry with some of the other offices that help the Holy Father carry out his universal mission.
In anticipation of the visit to Rome, every bishop is required to submit a report on his own diocese. We submitted our report in January of this year. Mary Jo Tully, our archdiocesan chancellor, coordinated the efforts of many of us who provided input for this 176-page document. In my own general assessment of our situation, I stated in that report, “The Catholic parishes are extraordinarily vibrant, and the people are very involved in many apostolates. The scandal of clergy sexual abuse, which has so gravely debilitated many dioceses across the land, has certainly impacted the Catholic community here. But the people have been supportive of the pastoral initiatives undertaken in the past two years.”
I was also asked to cite some pressing problems. One that I underscored was the challenge we face here in the United States bringing the Gospel message to a very secular culture. I said, “We need to be more effective in our efforts to evangelize the culture. Bringing the perspective of faith to many matters of public policy is challenging, but our Oregon Catholic Conference is relentless in its efforts to be successful.” I also pointed out that “the growing Hispanic population, most of which is Catholic, is a tremendous challenge and also a great opportunity. The Hispanics bring deep faith and great devotion to Our Lady and to many forms of Catholic piety. More and more of our clergy are learning the Spanish language.”
When asked about significant results during the past five years, I cited the effectiveness of our Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, the cooperation of all in dealing with the impact of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, our successful experience with the Disciples in Mission program, the establishment of an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, the strengthening of our social services, the development of a more effective approach to stewardship, the improvement of our vocations ministry and the re-establishment of an Archdiocesan Office of Worship.
Even though these visits usually take place every five years, the last one actually occurred six years ago. The Holy Father’s schedule was so full because of the Jubilee Year that he fell behind in his schedule for receiving bishops from across the world. Many people frequently express their concern about our Holy Father’s health. I know that he is not as strong as he used to be, but I also know that some of the people whom folks were talking about 10 years ago as his possible successors are now dead and buried and he goes on!
It so happens that this year’s Peter’s Pence Campaign will be taking place on the final weekend of my visit to Rome, June 26–27. This annual appeal in support of the works of the Holy Father is held in parishes across our nation. Your donations will be funding emergency-relief assistance to those throughout the world who suffer from war, oppression and natural disasters. There are many requests for charitable assistance that come to the pope’s attention. When we assist him in reaching out to needy people across the world, we are actively living the truth of our faith in love and speaking that truth in deeds.
This is a worldwide appeal. Your donations will be combined with those of more than one billion Catholics as an expression of our worldwide solidarity. More than 98 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to the Holy Father’s spiritual and charitable efforts around the globe. I ask you to make a generous donation this year, an expression of your support of the ministry of our Holy Father and also a visible sign of your communion with your bishops who will be praying for you Ad Limina Apostolorum.
A visit to Rome isn’t all work and no play. There’s no place better for pasta and vino. I also hope to touch base with our two seminarians in residence at the North American College. It will be exam time for them, but maybe they will find a moment to break bread with their archbishop.
I shall ask the Holy Father’s special blessing for you and your loved ones. I look forward to the next five years of service as a successor of the apostles here in this great archdiocese. God bless us all.