By Mary DeTurris Poust

Washington archbishop sees trip as time of renewal for Catholics

Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, whose archdiocese is hosting Pope Benedict on the first part of his journey to the United States, spoke with Our Sunday Visitor about the fruits he expects will come from the pontiff's presence in the nation's capital.

Our Sunday Visitor: What are you hoping the papal visit accomplishes for the Church in Washington, D.C.?

Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl: We look forward to the visit of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for a number of reasons. He comes to us as Peter. We welcome him because he is the visible sign of the rock on which Christ founded his Church and the touchstone for our connectedness with the apostles, the Gospel and, ultimately, Christ.

The Holy Father's visit should be a time of renewal of faith and deepening of our hope as we strive to bring the light of Christ into the world in which we live.

OSV: What are you seeing among the faithful of the archdiocese in terms of excitement and anticipation with regards to his visit?

Archbishop Wuerl: Signs of the enthusiasm for the Holy Father's visit are found just about everywhere. In parishes, where religious education programs and classroom instruction have special presentations based on the resource guides prepared for this occasion (available at www.uspapalvisit.org), our young people are learning more and more about who the pope is and his role as Peter in the Church today.

The competition has been intense to be in the special choirs that will sing at the Mass with our Holy Father. For every seat in Nationals Park, there are at least three requests, and I know that many will greet the Holy Father along the routes he will travel once they are made public. All of this speaks to the desire of Catholics and our neighbors to welcome and greet the pope on his first visit to the United States.

OSV: How might this visit have far-reaching impact, not only in the Archdiocese of Washington but throughout the rest of the region and country?

Archbishop Wuerl: Even in a highly secular society with a heavy emphasis on the here and now, we need to be reminded that all of us are capable of a personal relationship with God. Our nation has long professed its trust in God. We are a people the vast majority of whom believe in God. The Holy Father will underline that reality at a time when some are questioning and even challenging the rightful place of faith in the public square.

I am convinced that his visit will inspire our young people to a new openness to God's call, particularly to religious life and priesthood. I think we can anticipate his words of encouragement for our Catholic schools, for religious education programs in parishes throughout the country and for a witnessing to the faith that should identify Catholic institutions of higher learning. As he taught us in his encyclical letter on Christian hope, "the one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of new life."

The presence of the Vicar of Christ should affirm all of us in our commitment to see that the threads of the encounter with Christ and his life-giving message are woven into the fabric not only of our human experience but also of our society, our culture.

This is an ongoing task, but with the pope's encouragement the effort becomes a little easier.

The Holy Father's legacy, the gift of his visit, will be renewed energy among all of us and a recognition that we still have a great deal more to do as we try as effectively as possible to manifest Christ's kingdom in our country.