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Pope Benedict Xvi and the United States

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FAQ: PPOPEOPE BBENEDICTENEDICT XVIXVI POPE BENEDICT XVI AND THE UNITED STATES Why is he coming to the United States? Pope Benedict is coming to the United States April 15-20, 2008, to address the United Nations as well as to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the elevation of the diocese of Baltimore from diocese to archdiocese and the creation of the dioceses of New York, Boston, Bardstown, and Philadelphia. What sites will he visit while he is in the U.S.? The Holy Father is expected to visit the White House (John Paul II was the only other pope to visit the White House), the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Nationals Ballpark in Washington, The Catholic University of America, the United Nations, St. Joseph’s Church in Manhattan, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, Ground Zero in Manhattan, and Yankee Stadium. Why did he choose to visit New York and Washington, D.C.? The pope focused his itinerary on those two cities because of the presence of the United Nations in New York and the fact that Washington, D.C., is the nation’s capital. What is he expected to say to the United Nations? The pope probably will focus on several key themes in his U.N. address. First, he will confirm the irreplaceable role of the United Nations. He will likely note also the need for security and stability, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, and respect for the greatness and dignity of the human person. Likewise, the pontiff will no doubt also use his speech to advance his teaching on hope. What else will he talk about while in the United States? One goal of his visit will be to invite fallen-away Catholics back to the Church. In addition, on April 17, he will address the importance of Catholic education during a gathering with the heads of the more than 200 Catholic colleges and universities on the campus of The Catholic University of America. That same evening, he will discuss interreligious dialogue with representatives of the nation’s Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindi, Jews, and other religions at a prayer service to be held in the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, near Catholic University. Will he meet with President Bush? Yes. The pontiff is expected to be greeted by President Bush and Mrs. Bush upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base on April 16, the pope’s 81st birthday. Later that morning, he will meet them again on the South Lawn of the White House, followed by a private meeting. This will be their second meeting. President Bush visited the Vatican in June 2007. Who will accompany him on this trip? The pope will be accompanied by members of his personal staff. He will also be joined by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and other high-ranking Vatican officials. He will be met at the airport by his personal representative to the United States, the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi. Aside from his upcoming trip to the United States, what other countries has Pope Benedict visited? The pope has made seven trips outside Italy since his election: • 2005: Cologne, Germany (World Youth Day), August 18-21. • 2006: Poland, May 25-28; Valencia, Spain, July 8-9; Munich, Germany, September 9-14; Turkey, November 28-December 1. • 2007: Brazil, May 9-14; Austria, September 7-9. How many Catholics are in the United States? There are approximately 67.5 million Catholics in the United States, comprising 23% of the total U.S. population. How do I contact or write the pope? His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Vatican City State, 00120 Italy The papal e-mail address is [email protected]. WHO IS BENEDICT XVI? Pope Benedict XVI is the leader of the Catholic Church, which has more than 1.2 billion members around the world. He is the 265th pope and the 54th non-Italian pope. The oldest pope in three centuries, he was 78 years old when elected. When was he elected? Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger succeeded Pope John Paul II on April 19, 2005. Who chose him? Cardinals have elected the pope since 1059. According to rules dating back to 1274, during a papal election, the cardinals are locked into the Sistine Chapel and can have no contact with the outside world until the voting is complete. The exact vote counts are secret, the ballots are burned, and the cardinals are forbidden to reveal the vote results. Pope Benedict was elected by 115 members of the Sacred College of Cardinals from all over the world who were under the age of 80. The cardinals began voting on April 18, 2005. Cardinal Ratzinger was elected the next afternoon, after four ballots. Why did he take the name Benedict? Cardinal Ratzinger took the name Benedict in honor of Pope Benedict XV, an advocate of peace during World War I, and St. Benedict of Nursia, who helped to resurrect civilization in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. What is the pope’s job? Many people misunderstand the responsibilities of a pope, thinking that he is a figure who unilaterally dictates what Catholics must do and believe. This is not so. The Catholic Faith is a gift from Christ through the Apostles. The pope functions as the head of the bishops, to work in unity with them to teach, lead, and sanctify — to safeguard what has been handed down, not invent new ideas. The Lord made St. Peter the visible foundation of his Church. He entrusted the keys of the Church to him. The bishop of the Church of Rome, successor to St. Peter, is “head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the universal Church on earth” (CIC, can. 331). — From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #936. What is his background? Joseph Alois Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927, in the little Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn. He was ordained a Catholic priest on June 29, 1951, and went on to earn a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich in 1953. He became a professor of theology in 1959 at the University of Bonn, and was soon one of the most well-known theologians in Germany. From 1962 to 1965, he was a theological advisor to the Second Vatican Council. In 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising by Pope Paul VI; later that year, he was named a cardinal. His brother, Georg Ratzinger, is also a priest. What did he do before he was elected? Joseph Ratzinger was the most senior member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, the highest ruling body of the Catholic Church, as well as head of the Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that safeguards the teachings of the Catholic faith. How many languages does he speak? Aside from his native German, Benedict XVI speaks Italian, French, English, Spanish, Dutch, and Latin fluently. He also has some knowledge of Portuguese and can read Ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. What does he have on his coat-of-arms? The pope’s coat of arms has three main symbols: a Moor wearing a crown, a scallop shell, and a bear with a pack on its back. The Moor was the symbol of the Archbishops of Munich and Freising for over 1,000 years; the scallop shell has long been used as the emblem of pilgrims; the bear with a backpack is a symbol from the legend of Freising’s patron, St. Corbinian. The story goes that Corbinian met a bear that attacked the horse carrying the saint’s baggage. To punish the bear, Corbinian forced it to carry his pack all the way to Rome. Does he actually wear red shoes? Yes, the pope wears red leather loafers with white socks. The papal shoes are the work of the pope’s personal shoemaker — not Prada, as was first reported. What does the pope enjoy doing for relaxation? When he was younger, he enjoyed hiking in the Tyrol and Dolomite mountains. The pope is very fond of reading and playing the piano. He particularly appreciates Mozart and Beethoven. He is fond of local Bavarian specialties such as Weisswurst and Bavarian sausages, and has always enjoyed Christmas cookies as well as Fanta soda. How can I learn more about Pope Benedict and his vision for the Church? Since his election, Pope Benedict has written several major documents including Deus Caritas Est (“God is Love”) and Spe Salvi (“Saved by Hope”), and recent books The Apostles, Questions and Answers, and the best-selling Jesus of Nazareth, which has been translated into 32 languages. Did he write any books before becoming pope? He wrote more than 40 books, including God of Jesus Christ; A Turning Point for Europe?: The Church in the Modern World — Assessment and Forecast Principles of Christian Morality; Behold the Pierced One; Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology; Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today; and Introduction to Christianity. Many of his books remain classics and are used as textbooks..
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