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From ICNAug. 8, 2010
Archbishop Conti has published a pastoral letter ahead of the Papal Visit. The
letter encourages a full and enthusiastic welcome for the Holy Father, defining
the visit as "an historic occasion ... a moment of grace"
The Archbishop talks of the "immense privilege" for the Archdiocese of Glasgow
to host the successor of St Peter. He says: "Our national and local authorities,
in particular the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police
and transport chiefs have responded with remarkable enthusiasm in the making of
the necessary arrangements for his reception.
"Physical arrangements are one thing; our pastoral and spiritual preparations
are another. Copious materials have already been provided to parishes, and
further assistance is being made available to ensure that the final weeks of
preparation will open us up to the many graces we anticipate from the occasion.
"Next Sunday, 15 August – the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady,
and her principal feast, will be a month to the eve of the Holy Father’s coming
– a month of spiritual preparation shaped to the capacity and needs of each
parish under the leadership of parish priests and pastoral councils. We pray to
Our Blessed Lady that she may be in the midst of us in prayer for the success of
this visit, which will give honor to her Son and renew us all in Spirit."
The full text of the Archbishop's letter follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our Archdiocese will shortly have the immense privilege of hosting a visit from
our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Such visits are a rare occurrence, and only
the second of a reigning pope in the long history of our country. It will be an
historic occasion. It will also be a moment of grace, for Pope Benedict is the
Successor of Saint Peter, to whom the Lord committed the care of His Church
saying “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep”.
At the Last Supper Jesus said to Peter “Simon, Simon! Satan, you must know, has
got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that
your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you in your turn must
strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:31).
At times we may all feel the Church has in recent months been under hostile
scrutiny and that clergy particularly have been sifted like wheat. We need the
presence of Simon Peter to bolster our faith and give us new courage to face the
difficulties and ease the pain which the Church and each one of us must
necessarily encounter in an imperfect and ever changing world.
We preach the Gospel above all by witnessing to it in the integrity of our lives
and in the love we show towards God in prayer and worship, and in service one of
another. The Mass at Bellahouston will manifest all these elements.
Of course our attendance will involve hardships of one sort or another,
depending upon our age and the circumstances of weather and travel. Those who
come from a great distance will benefit from our contributing the same amount as
is requested of them to defray the expenses of transport and other costs. We who
are privileged to be close at hand will thereby give a warm welcome to our
fellow pilgrims from afar.
Above all our welcome will be for the person of the Holy Father himself, who
will have been received by Her Majesty the Queen in Edinburgh before traveling
to Glasgow. It is in recognition of the international standing of the Holy
Father, and of the Church he leads that her government has invited him. Our
national and local authorities, in particular the Scottish Government, Glasgow
City Council, Strathclyde Police and transport chiefs have responded with
remarkable enthusiasm in the making of the necessary arrangements for his
reception.
Physical arrangements are one thing; our pastoral and spiritual preparations are
another. Copious materials have already been provided to parishes, and further
assistance is being made available to ensure that the final weeks of preparation
will open us up to the many graces we anticipate from the occasion.
Next Sunday, 15 August – the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady,
and her principal feast, will be a month to the eve of the Holy Father’s coming
– a month of spiritual preparation shaped to the capacity and needs of each
parish under the leadership of parish priests and pastoral councils. We pray to
Our Blessed Lady that she may be in the midst of us in prayer for the success of
this visit, which will give honor to her Son and renew us all in Spirit.
With every blessing,
Yours devotedly in Christ,
Mario Conti
Archbishop of Glasgow
