School of Theology - Seton Hall University file:///Volumes/Site%20Backups/Theology%2020090910/Lecture
School of Theology - Seton Hall University file:///Volumes/Site%20Backups/theology%2020090910/lecture... A CENTURY OF PAPAL REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES Reverend Timothy M. Dolan Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Archdiocese of St. Louis Archbishop Gerety Lecture at Seton Hall University, October 15, 1992 "Hence we cheerfully sent one who should represent Our Person..." wrote Pope Leo XII in his encyclical Longinqua Oceani1 to the Church of the United States, January 6, 1895, referring to the appointment of the first apostolic delegate, Archbishop Francesco Satolli, just two years previous. That January 21, 1993, will be the centennial of this event suggested the topic of this year's Archbishop Gerety Lecture, "A Century of Papal Representation in the United States." Thank you for the invitation to be part of this distinguished lecture series. For the record, I have dedicated this meagre effort to the preeminent church historian of the United States, Monsignor John Tracy Ellis, my teacher, mentor and friend who, at 87, is now recuperating from hip surgery in Washington, D.C. May the Lord of Truth whom he has served so diligently be close to him in his recovery. I propose to develop this topic under five points. First, I will treat the way the Holy See approached America prior to Archbishop Satolli's appointment; secondly, I will consider the give-and-take surrounding his nomination in 1893; then will come a staccato-like overview of the comings-and-goings of his 10 successors; fourthly, I will take a look at just what, in general, the delegates have done, offering two examples of their activities; and, finally, I will conclude with a segment on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the government of the United States.
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