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Saint Vincent de Paul
Roman Catholic Church
979 Avenue C -
Bayonne, New Jersey 07002
(201) 436-2222 Fax:(201) 437-5235
Founded 1894
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[Pope Benedict XVI]
  Pope
Benedict XVI
Apostolic Journey to the United States
April 15 - 20, 2008
Prepared Text as released by the Vatican of
Pope Benedict's speech on the White House Lawn April 16, 2008
Mr. President,
Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of
the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit
this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the
life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the
two-hundredth anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first Diocese
– Baltimore – to a metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the
Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to
be here as a guest of all Americans. 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. As I begin my visit, I trust
that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in
the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute
ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud
to be citizens.
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.
In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America’s
Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and
representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country.
Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the
freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their
conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a
commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard.
As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues
of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their
religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to
pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to
build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility.
Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country
has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of
freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for
the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good
and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands
the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and
values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a
challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over
for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as
clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual
victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in
eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that
“in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy
without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those
prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington,
expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent
“indispensable supports” of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever
more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God
(cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all
things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny
of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the
strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to
work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only
flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and
those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of
firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the
nation.
For well over a century, the United States of America has played an
important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I
will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I
hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever
more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world’s
peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all
people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as brothers and
sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God’s
bounty has set for all his children. America has traditionally shown
herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development
and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident
that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find
expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy
to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations
will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can
flourish – a world where the God-given dignity and rights of every man,
woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.
Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I
express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your
midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation
and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless
America! |