Preparing for the Pope
As you might have heard, Pope Benedict XVI is visiting the U.S. this April. As the Religion Correspondent, I’ve been busy helping put together a special scheduled to air Sunday, April 13.
The special called Mission to America: Pope Benedict XVI, will be hosted by Chris Wallace. I’m handling the U.S. side of things, while Greg Burke, the Fox Rome Correspondent, is busy with the European elements. Meanwhile our stunning producer Rachel Feldman is working feverishly to pull it all together!
This visit is the first by Benedict since he was elected Pope three years ago, after the death of John Paul II. In fact, Pope Benedict will celebrate his third anniversary as the Vicar of Christ and his 81st birthday, on U.S. soil. Although he has visited the U.S. a few times as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, this will be his first, and maybe his only trip to America as Pope.
One of the greatest challenges in creating a special about the Pope’s visit is trying to figure out what he’s going to say. The Vatican is none to eager to hand us the Pope’s talking points. So we’re left with asking various high-level sources some probing questions, like “What’s on the Pope’s mind?” “What does he want to tell Americans?” “Will he reprimand wayward Catholics?”
But one thing’s for certain … this Pope wants to inspire a resurgence of faith in Christianity and, of course in Catholicism, in America.
In the course of research, I’ve learned lots about this Pope, and have tremendous respect for him. Even many who don’t agree with his theology, acknowledge that he’s the “go to guy” when it comes to peaceful religious dialogue.
But if you want to learn more about the Holy Father, I can suggest you read one or some of his many books. He’s truly a scholar, the professor pope, who’s written practically a library of materials. Some good reading would be Milestones, which is his memoirs as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, before he was elected pope. But another interesting tome was not actually written by him but was an interview he did with a journalist. It’s called The Salt of the Earth. And the Pope’s latest book Jesus of Nazareth, is a great read for getting inside his theological mind and also to understand how personal faith is for him.
You can get a detailed schedule of the Pope’s five-day papal pilgrimage from the websites of The Archdioceses of Washington, D.C. and New York . The Holy Father will be arriving in the nation’s capitol on the evening of Tuesday, April 15.
During his two days in D.C. he’ll greet the president at the White House, meet with Catholic educators, Bishops and say Mass at Washington Nationals Stadium. He’ll also have an interfaith meeting with representatives from other religions. The centerpiece of his U.S. visit, and the initial reason for coming, is to speak at the United Nations in New York. That will happen on Friday, April 18. He’ll depart New York for Rome on Sunday April 20th after celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium.
(Photo credit: AP)
As someone who was raised Catholic, went to 12 years of Catholic schools and who now believes in a Creator, but that religion is man-made to control the masses……..I don’t really care that the Pope is coming to America.
I am more intrigued that as of late, the Catholic church keeps changing their minds about things….adding new sins, oops, there really is no Limbo, St. Christopher and 40 other saints are saints no longer………
If one is to believe that the Pope is God’s emmisary on Earth and the Pope keeps changing the rules, are we then to believe that God made some mistakes?
My question for Pope Benedict XVI is to find out when he is going to have all the Bishops around the world “Consecrate Russia”. So there may be peace…I hope you read this on the air…Mr Bill O’Reilly.
Blessings,
Marie Kidd, Taylors, SC
First of all the Pope is not God on earth at all. he is human and as such he has to try much harder to bring people and the different religion in a more basic understanding,we seem to be more divided than ever.
It is a great idea that he is visiting USA but i want him to visit other afflicted country as well it’s a must it’s imperative that he will accomplish that
This should be the big beginning of pulling the net out of the see and should be full of fish
The signature of Joseph Radzinger is on the ‘Criminale Solicitacciones’ instruction from the Vatican directing bishops to protect pedophile clergy at the expense of not protecting the little children these
sex criminals violate and destroy, even threatening excomminication if the identities of the predetors are divulged. Virtually every one of the 179 Roman Catholic diocese and arch dioces in the USA (save 2 where litigation is still pending), meaning every bishop and arch bishop including cardinals Law and Mahoney have been found liable in court. If this pope comes to America, it should be to stand trial for conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
James Jacob Prasch
We are so excited that the pope is coming to the U.S. I pray that his visit will help everyone from every walk of life!
May God bless him,
Yolanda & George Rossy
Yes many negative things have happened in the past that has hurt innocent people and the catholic church is paying dearly for it.
The Pope can’t stop going on and look for a better future.
He must step up a build a better relation among people and religion in this difficult time.
The former Pope was on that path he was very cabable untin he became very ill and even than he wanted to go on.
This Pope has to get some guts to do the same and more, this is what i am looking foward to very much
Lauren -
I always enjoy your contributions both on-line and on the air. RE: Michele ’s opening comment, Religion is man made, God is interested in Relationship and that’s a personal gift that he offered each of us directly through His Son Jesus Christ, who was/is in deed God on Earth.
If you are in Minneapolis, visit my friends at Bethlehem Baptist Church, (http://www.hopeingod.org/) you will be blessed!
God Bless you,
Scott on Cape Cod
I DO EXPECT A LOT FROM THIS POPE THESE ARE VERY SENSUTIVE TIMES FOR A LOT OF PEPLE WITH DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND HE HAS I MUST ADMIT A BIG WEIGHT ON HIS SHOULDER FOR IT.
HE CAN STEP UP AND DO HIS PART TO BEGIN SOME WORLD METING WITH ALL CONGREGATIONS.
IT CONCERNES ME WERE WE ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE AND SO MUCH DIVISIVINESS WITH RELIGION, AND WE HAVE TO START SOMEWERE
do you really believe a guy that thinks he talks to god everyday? lol i mean this guy has a direct conversation with god? god tells him what to do? between the money making tv evangalist, the collection plates that your required to pay,the sex perverts in the hundreds as preachers, bishops and so on, i mean come on people !!!! so he speaks 9 languages, big deal,hes just a guy,your grabbing straws that have no foundation, other than what they make up,its comical, all this hocus pocus about the beads,1500 hail marys cause you want the pretty women sitting next to your wife, the confessional? what? are you nuts? you mezz well face it, the world is a very very screwed up place, the goverments the churches the police, there all corrupt, you act as if your at some point your going to live in some utopia after we kill all the terrorist,and rid the planet of perverts and killers and rapist and molesters,drug lords and gang members and so on,what does god tell your pope say about that? hey ah pope, its god, ah you guys are doing just what i would do if i was ,,,,ah there,yeh i know i messed up letting bush be born but ah,, i was off that day, the facts are theres 50 or so leaders that run about 10 billion people and one pope, well i hope your pope has the ansers for you,and yours,he surley has helped with the probloms that god talks to him about in making the world a better place, in fact i think the pope should run for vp,as an adviser! maby take that little smoke thing and a few million gallons of holy water and just spread the joy!!! free crackers and wine!!oh and from his perch in the vatican, i did see he told people to stop hating each other and work for world piece,hmmmm thats cool, im not real sure everybody was watching that day, well hopfully god will guide him to fix the probloms here on earth, and give him some godly advise, amen
Michele,
The Church does not “change” sins. I assume what your refering to are the ridiculous articles that came out not too long ago which took Bishop Gianfranco Girotti’s comments and distorted them claiming the Catholic Church has a “new list” of seven deadly sins. If you don’t believe me, look here: http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Recycle-or-go-to-hell-.html&Itemid=99999999
And here: http://www.americanpapist.com/2008/03/seven-new-deadly-sins-that-are-not.html
Limbo was never a defined element of the Catholic faith, but a possibility suggested by theologians. A commission was created to study the issue and that’s where we got all these articles that were making assumptions. (Ex.: ‘Pope says there’s no limbo.”
God Bless,
Lauren
Had enought of Good Morning America and went to Fox News to get some nice coverage of the Pope’s Visit
You missed one Thing
He is not just pope of Roman Catholic Church
but Pope of 22 other Eastern Rite Catholic Churches
Thanks
Florian
God Bless our Pope. Welcome to America Benedict XVI!
it is an OUTRAGE that people look up to and honor a man who PROTECTS PEDOPHILES!!
people think this man “speaks for God”… you think God wants pedophiles to be protected at the EXPENSE of INNOCENT CHILDREN??
it is an absolute OUTRAGE!
oh, and by the way, i don’t know about “theological suggestions and possibilities”, but i was raised roman catholic, and LIMBO was pretty well-defined to me!!… maybe someone should have clued us lowly laymen in on this “mere possibility”… every roman catholic i knew believed in the doctrine of LIMBO… in fact, they believed in it to such an extent that they BOUGHT mass cards and novenas in the names of dead persons in order to help get them out of LIMBO more quickly!!… the priests and bishops knew full well that my family (along with countless others) did this, and NO ONE EVER bothered to mention that limbo was just a “theological possibility”… nice try, lauren… but for all practical purposes, no good roman catholic ever questioned the doctrine of limbo…
peace,
jen-o
Thank you Lauren and Fox News for giving us such good coverage of the Pope’s visit. I got tired of listening to CNN going on and on and on and on…. about the child abuse.
To Margaret; Well if you are looking for someplace to start, how about with yourself and not with a religion, but a relationship with the redeemer of souls. Start with receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, being born again; Gospel of John chapter 3, read it. Get into a New Testament PREACHING Church and find out what you HAVE been missing and no doubt looking for!!
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Bruce / servant to King Jesus
to Jen 0 : By Limbo, if you are referring to the… NOT TO BE FIND ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE… doctrine of purgatory, I will point you and others to what Jesus Himself teaches about where a person goes upon his (or her) death.
Looking in the New Testament book of Luke chapter 16. verses 19 -31, Lord Jesus speaks about 2 people, one a Rich man (who’s name is unknown…?) and Lazarus ( who Jesus refers to by name…?). He says of the Rich man that he lived sumptuously every day V.19, and of Lazarus a beggar who laid at the Rich man’s gate, and was full of sores V.20,
I will not go into the whole theology of this doctrine,(for I feel it would be much do deep for you .Jen 0). I will say about this teaching here of Lord Jesus, that it is an actual account of two who had lived and died, and in V. 22 recorded is both their deaths, Lazarus mention first that he died and was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom: ( a picture of comfort), the rich man also died and was buried: Then, in V. 23 my point made, it says,.. “And in HELL he (the rich man) lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then in verse 24 the personal testimony of the rich man himself, ” And he (the rich man) cried and said, Father Abraham,(that is father of many nations biblically speaking), have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME”. The rich man pleads for relieve from his torment being IN the flames, but Abraham reminds him of his life that he lived sumptuously and also of Lazarus’s life of torment while on earth, and then says this in V. 26, ” And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence”.
No purgatory in any of these verses Jen 0 , no Limbo, it does not matter what the “church” teaches, it matters not what men may try to teach, I will not listen to their doctrine on the matter of Limbo, I will listen to what Jesus Himself has taught with regards to Heaven and Hell, real places and once a person is in either place (depending on whether they are saved or not) they stay there for all eternity. Lazarus is comforted now and at rest in the Lord Jesus, and the rich man was sent to hell in the flames and is there now as I am writing this and he has been there now for some 2000 years.
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Bruce / servant to King Jesus