Part 2 -
PopeTrip'08: In the Capital, the "State of the Unum"
Keeping with the steady drip of
firmed-up plans for next April's papal pilgrimage to these shores, it's emerged that the Washington leg of Benedict XVI's journey will see what promises to be the trek's most significant
ad intra moment: a meeting with the bishops of the United States, papal address included.
As all but a few members of the US hierarchy have gotten little direct exposure to Benedict's mind, aside from the routine practice of a brief
baciamano greeting following his General Audiences, the foreseen speech would serve as this pontificate's first in-depth public assessment of the state of American Catholicism.
What's more, the timing of the talk will also provide an advance glimpse into what the church in the States can expect to hear in greater detail shortly down the line; the quinquennial
ad limina visit of the American bishops begins early in 2009. By that time, the US hierarchy will be the last major group to make the five-yearly pilgrimage to Rome in Benedict's reign.
In the meantime, a seeming sneak-preview of April's message was given by the Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB on his visit to last August's Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Nashville.
Some might've read the
"Vice-Pope's" major address at the time... but you might want to read it again.
And for all the rest, stay tuned.
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I wonder if Boston's exclusion has anything to do with the cardinal's pooh-poohing of the Motu Proprio? Didn't he say something like, "This only applies to Europe"?
If that was somebody else, please correct me! I don't want to pin something on Boston that it's not responsible for.
I really wish the Holy Father would hurry up and set the dates for Washington DC or NYC.
We either need to start our American Government curriculum and make campground reservations or get the party bus ready to meet our dear Cyborg!
Dear Pope Benedict XVI...
PLEASE COME TO PHILADELPHIA!