Region four the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have begun their Ad Liminia
pilgrimage to Rome this week. It is the third group of the large conference to travel
to Rome since the staged US Ad Limina began in November 2011.
This 5 yearly
visit to the Vatican consists of masses in the major basilicas (St Peter’s, St John
Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s outside the walls) and meetings with offices
of the Roman Curia to discuss the state of the Church in the nation, culminating in
an audience with the Pope.
This region comprises bishops drawn from the Mid-Atlantic
area and includes the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which is the Primary See in the United
States, being the nation’s oldest. Currently Baltimore is without a resident Archbishop,
its previous leader, Cardinal-designate Edwin O’ Brien having been appointed by Pope
Benedict XVI to succeed Philadelphia legend, the late Card. John Foley to the position
of Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and Apostolic
Administrator of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, pending the installation of his successor.
On
Tuesday the bishops of Region 4 had a morning session at the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, but Baltimore Bishop Mitchel Rozanski had a few moments to
stop and share his thoughts us about the Ad limina, Pope Benedict’s message for young
American’s and New Evangelisation: Listen