4 PEOPLE of GOD march 2020

Ad Limina Visit & Pilgrimage Although tired from the that his patient, kind and with a continuous existence journey, we got our luggage compassionate personality since 161 BC. It was good to the hotel and celebrated is quite genuine. Later in to have someone with me Sunday Mass together at the the day, we visited who spoke fluent Italian. Divine Mercy Shrine near the We got good service at the the Vatican. for the Protection of Minors. restaurant! The following day we It was quite impressive On Wednesday, our gathered with the bishops of to see how the Church group attended the papal Region XIII for Mass at the is working closely with audience in the morning Tomb of St. Peter. It is very agencies all over the and explored the many moving to be at the spot world to promote a safe interesting sites of in where St. Peter is buried and environment for children the afternoon. While they where the early Christians and young people. were touring, I went with my gathered to celebrate The following day, brother bishops to visit the the same Eucharist we Tuesday, was a Vatican Congregation for Bishops n last month’s issue were celebrating over holiday, commemorating and the Congregation for of People of God, I 2,000 years later. After the Lateran Treaty of 1929. the Doctrine of the Faith. wrote about the then Mass, our pilgrims had This gave me a wonderful Then, in the afternoon, upcoming ad limina an opportunity to visit the opportunity to spend the we all met for Mass at St. visit of the bishops of many historic sites of Rome day with our pilgrims. We Paul Outside the Walls. I Region XIII to Rome. while I joined my brother headed for the Basilica The Roman Emperor In this month’s column, I bishops for our visit with of St. Mary Major and Constantine I founded this would like to share with Francis. We engaged celebrated Mass together major basilica over St. Paul’s you our journey and some the pope in a conversation in this historic and ancient burial place. Pope Sylvester of its highlights. that lasted about two- church. The basilica was consecrated it in 324. It I felt very blessed to be and-a-half hours, talking erected in the aftermath has had many renovations, traveling to Rome with about a variety of matters, of the Council of Ephesus being almost completely about 40 of the faithful including lay ecclesial in 431 (which proclaimed rebuilt after a fire in 1823. It from the Archdiocese of ministry, our splendid Mary the Mother of God) was a special treat for me to Santa Fe. We began our priests, ecumenism, the role and consecrated on August see 72 pilgrims at the Mass pilgrimage with prayer, of women in the Church, 5, 434. We had ample time from the Diocese of Salt a prayer that intensified evangelization, the V for prayer and to take in Lake City, accompanying due to the persistent Encuentro, immigration, and the beauty of this historic Oscar Solis, a bishop turbulence caused by a much more. Church. The rest of the day of Region XIII. storm that was brewing was very relaxed and most was free for sightseeing, The next day, Thursday, over the Atlantic and cordial. It was extraordinary souvenir hunting and quiet our pilgrims departed for headed for Europe. On that he would give us so time. In the late afternoon, I a two-day trip to Assisi the bright side, the plane much time. He clearly met my nephew, who lives in and Florence. As much as reached sustained speeds enjoyed being with us and Florence, for a walk around I would have liked to join of 724 miles per hour getting to know us better. the Circus Maximus and them, I spent the day with and we arrived one hour Many of the bishops who dinner in the Roman Ghetto, the bishops, celebrating and 10 minutes early preceded us had the same probably the oldest Jewish Mass once again at St. at Fiumicino Airport. impression. It is very clear community in the world, Mary Major. We then march 2020 PEOPLE of GOD 5

went for our visits to the man who serves as one of following Congregations: the pope’s closest advisors. Laity, Family and Life; the So there you have it! It Promoting Integral Human was a full and grace-filled Development; Catholic week during which we Education; Consecrated were able to communicate Life; Divine Worship; and our concerns to the pope Ad Limina Visit & Pilgrimage Causes of Saints. We had and the major heads of to split up for some of these his curia. In turn, we were given the pressure of time. able to learn much about It was an intensive day the current affairs of the and as you can see, I really and the Church His Mercy would have liked to be with universal. It was wonderful our pilgrims! Seriously, to be with my brother however, I did enjoy our bishops and in particular, visits with these important with my brothers and sisters Endures Forever departments in the papal from our archdiocese. curia. When our pilgrimage group On Friday, we bishops returned Friday night, I was celebrated Mass at the pleased to hear about their Archbasilica of St. John time in Assisi and Florence Lateran, also known as but we were all tired and the Cathedral of the Most had to pack for the long Holy Savior and of Saints flight home the next day. John the Baptist and the Without the tail winds of Evangelist in the Lateran. the week before the flight This is the oldest and most took a lot longer but that important of the four major gave us more time to ponder basilicas in Rome and has the wonderful memories the distinction of being of our trip and to savor our the oldest public church in enriching experiences that Rome and the oldest basilica will last a lifetime. We are in the Western world. This grateful to God for safe is the Bishop of Rome’s passage and the gift of cathedral and so after Mass the Church, given to us by we gathered around the Christ Himself. I pray for cathedra, or chair, to pray. the Bishop of Rome every On February 22 of each year, day and I also thank God we celebrate the Feast of every day for the grace and the Chair of Peter, which is privilege of being bishop of a symbol of the unity of the this graced and spirit-filled Church under the pope, the Church of Santa Fe. It is Bishop of Rome. After Mass, good to be home! we visited the Congregation for Clergy and then the Sincerely yours in the Risen Secretary of State, Cardinal Lord, Parolin. The cardinal secretary performs all the political and diplomatic functions of the Holy See and the . He is Most Rev. John C. Wester, an amiable and perceptive Archbishop of Santa Fe