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Remarks at the White House, April 16
I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America's Catholics have made and continue to make an excellent contribution to the life of their country.
From the dawn of the republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God.
The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
Remarks, meeting with Bishops, National Shrine, April 16
As this year also marks the bicentenary of the elevation of the founding see of Baltimore to an archdiocese, it gives me an opportunity to recall with admiration and gratitude the life and ministry of John Carroll, the first bishop of Baltimore -- a worthy leader of the Catholic community in your newly independent nation. His tireless efforts to spread the Gospel in the vast territory under his care laid the foundations for the ecclesial life of your country and enabled the church in America to grow to maturity.
The people of this country are known for their great vitality and creativity. They are also known for their generosity. After the attack on the twin towers in September 2001 and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Americans displayed their readiness to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in need.
On the international level, the contribution made by the people of America to relief and rescue operations after the tsunami of December 2004 is a further illustration of this compassion. Let me express my particular appreciation for the many forms of humanitarian assistance provided by American Catholics through Catholic Charities and other agencies.
Respect for freedom of religion is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness -- a fact which has contributed to this country's attraction for generations of immigrants, seeking a home where they can worship freely in accordance with their beliefs.
It strikes me as significant that here in America, unlike many places in Europe, the secular mentality has not been intrinsically opposed to religion. Within the context of the separation of church and state, American society has always been marked by a fundamental respect for religion and its public role, and if polls are to be believed, the American people are deeply religious.
Before leaving, I would like to pause to acknowledge the immense suffering endured by the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina as well as their courage in the challenging work of rebuilding. I would like to present Archbishop Alfred Hughes with a chalice, which I hope will be accepted as a sign of my prayerful solidarity with the faithful of the archdiocese and my personal gratitude for the tireless devotion which he and Archbishops Philip Hannan and Francis Schulte showed toward the flock entrusted to their care.
Homily, Washington Nationals Park, April 17
Our Mass today brings the church in the United States back to its roots in nearby Maryland and commemorates the bicentennial of the first chapter of its remarkable growth -- the division by my predecessor Pope Pius VII of the original Diocese of Baltimore and the establishment of the dioceses of Boston, Bardstown (now Louisville), New York and Philadelphia.
Address to Catholic Educators at The Catholic University of America, April 17
The Catholic community here has in fact made education one of its highest priorities. This undertaking has not come without great sacrifice. Towering figures, like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and other founders and foundresses, with great tenacity and foresight, laid the foundations of what is today a remarkable network of parochial schools contributing to the spiritual well-being of the church and the nation. Some, like St. Katharine Drexel, devoted their lives to educating those whom others had neglected -- in her case, African-Americans and Native Americans. Countless dedicated religious sisters, brothers and priests together with selfless parents have, through Catholic schools, helped generations of immigrants to rise from poverty and take their place in mainstream society.
Certainly in a nation such as this, the state provides ample opportunities for education and attracts committed and generous men and women to this honorable profession.
Homily, St. Patrick Cathedral, New York, April 18
The first has to do with the stained-glass windows, which flood the interior with mystic light. From the outside, those windows are dark, heavy, even dreary. But once one enters the church, they suddenly come alive; reflecting the light passing through them, they reveal all their splendor. Many writers -- here in America we can think of Nathaniel Hawthorne -- have used the image of stained glass to illustrate the mystery of the church herself. It is only from the inside, from the experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we see the church as she truly is: flooded with grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the manifold gifts of the Spirit. It follows that we, who live the life of grace within the church's communion, are called to draw all people into this mystery of light.
We need but think of the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus, or of the legacy of the generations of religious and priests who quietly devoted their lives to serving the people of God in countless schools, hospitals and parishes.
Remarks at the Youth Rally, April 19
In front of you are the images of six ordinary men and women who grew up to lead extraordinary lives. The church honors them as venerable, blessed or saint: Each responded to the Lord's call to a life of charity, and each served him here in the alleys, streets and suburbs of New York. I am struck by what a remarkably diverse group they are: poor and rich, lay men and women -- one a wealthy wife and mother -- priests and sisters, immigrants from afar, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior father and Algonquin mother, another a Haitian slave, and a Cuban intellectual.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Padre Felix Varela:
For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors.
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