In anticipation
Photo by AP
On this eve of Pope Benedict’s visit to America, the coverage of his arrival is ramping up.
Next up for Pope Benedict XVI, a welcoming nation that wants to get to know him.
Benedict’s first trip to the United States as pope begins Tuesday – a five-day visit to Washington and New York, including a speech at the United Nations. Anyone expecting strident speeches from the man once called “God’s rottweiler” for his role defending Roman Catholic doctrine will be disappointed.
It’s time they drop this “God’s rottweiler” phrase. The media can be so unimaginative. Otherswise, this is a good story.
Benedict will deliver an unwavering message that society needs religious values, but this intellectual pontiff will do it in the most positive way possible. After making relatively little headway in his efforts to re-ignite the faith in Europe, America’s roughly 65 million Catholics seem anxious to hear him.
“He has a way of helping us see what the Gospel and what the Catholic faith tradition asks of us that is challenging and not frightening,” Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Benedict’s host in the first leg of the five-day trip, told The Associated Press.
Archbishop Wuerl told the media covering apostolic journey that when he gets off the plane, America will see Peter. Shepherd One touches down Tuesday afternoon. I’ll be there to cover it, and fill you in here.
