Pope urges US Catholics to build on the impressive legacy of the past

(April 21, 2008) Honouring the bicentennial of four U.S. archdioceses, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday praised the "solid foundations" of the American Catholic Church and said "the future of the church in America" must continue to build on that "impressive legacy." But in his homily for the final Mass of his April 15-20 U.S. visit, the pope also said the "impressive growth" of the U.S. church has been "not without its challenges," comparing those challenges to the "linguistic and cultural tensions" found in the early church.
An estimated 57,000 people attended the Mass at New York's Yankee Stadium, which marked the bicentennials of the archdioceses of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, all created from Baltimore, the first Catholic diocese of the U.S. The prevailing colour theme throughout Yankee stadium was purple, gold and white; the flowers on the altar were gold and white. All of the ubiquitous stadium advertising was covered with black drapery and fabric bearing the coats of arms of the Vatican and New York Archdiocese.
"In these 200 years, the face of the Catholic community in your country has changed greatly," Pope Benedict said. "We think of the successive waves of immigrants whose traditions have so enriched the church in America." He also praised "the strong faith which built up the network of churches, educational, health care and social institutions which have long been the hallmark of the church in this land," as well as "those countless fathers and mothers who passed on the faith to their children, the steady ministry of the many priests who devoted their lives to the care of souls, and the incalculable contribution made by so many men and women religious."
But he said the bicentennial should be "more than an occasion of gratitude for graces received." "It is also a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations," he said.
However, the Pope’s Sunday programme began on a sombre note. His visit to New York City’s Ground Zero was perhaps the most poignant moment of his 5-day US visit. Ground Zero is the site where New York's famous landmarks, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in lower Manhattan, once stood. The 110-storey North and South Towers were brought down after terrorists crashed two hijacked airlines into them on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3000 people.
There on the bedrock of the giant crater where once stood the towers, the Holy Father knelt for a moment of silent prayer and reflection trying to fathom the mystery of hatred that disregards human life and human solidarity and love that overcomes every hatred.
There was no speech at Ground Zero but the Pope lit a large white candle that stood next to a tiny pool and offered a simple prayer that invoked peace, hope and healing among nations and peoples of the world. Describing the site as “the scene of incredible violence and pain,'' Pope Benedict asked God to give "eternal light and peace'' to those who died, and healing for wounded survivors and the "still-grieving families'' who lost loved ones. In addition to ground zero, the Pentagon was also attacked by hijacked planes. The pope "prayed for those who suffered death, injury, and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania." The Holy Father asked God to "comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.'' He also prayed for those who are consumed by hatred and driven to violence, an apparent reference to the attackers or their supporters: "God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth," the pope prayed. "Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred.''
Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York introduced to the Pope the 24 officers, survivors and family members. Although the pope spent only half an hour at the site, he listened to each person and had a word of comfort for each of them. When he blessed the ground with holy water - turning toward each direction of the compass - he hallowed the only place some of them know as their loved ones' burial ground.
The principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the ceremony with a low, soothing yet mournful melody.