Card.
Wuerl: prayerful preparation for missionary Pope
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis begins his three-city tour of the United States on
September 22nd, in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. The Archbishop of
Washington, DC, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, held a broad-ranging conversation
with Vatican Radio’s Chris Altieri ahead of the Holy Father’s departure,
describing the political, social and ecclesial contours of the visit, and
exploring some of the major themes.
sked
how the Church in the Washington, DC, archdiocese is preparing to welcome the
Holy Father, Cardinal Wuerl said that – in addition to the complex and
complicated practical challenges of coordinating so momentous a series of
events for such an illustrious guest – there are basic spiritual and
catechetical preparations. “We have been inviting now for months, all our
faithful, and anybody else who would join us, to pray for our Holy Father, to
pray for his intentions – because he has so many concerns that he is dealing
with,” said Cardinal Wuerl. “A third level,” he continued, “[is] just helping
people renew their knowledge and understanding of who the Pope is, and what is
the Papacy – what does it mean to be the Successor to Peter, the Vicar of
Christ? – and we have provided catechetical materials at our schools and our
parishes – throughout the community.”
Cardinal
Wuerl also shared some thoughts on the significance of a reigning Pontiff
addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress – an historically
unprecedented event. “I think that what we should look for is the Holy Father
using this platform – and certainly, the Congress of the United States
continues to be a very significant body on this planet – and he will be
speaking to [Senators and Representatives], but through them, to the nation and
to the world,” Cardinal Wuerl said, “ – and I expect him to be calling us to
those Gospel values, about which he speaks all the time,” including the
inherent and inalienable dignity of every human being, and the need to be
respectful of that dignity, as well as the moral imperative to care responsibly
for our common home – a responsibility that flows from our human dignity and
shares a source with it in our Divine Creator.
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