Pope Benedict has arrived here in the Imperial City of Washington, and all manner of road closings and television specials have been announced. But, the quietest notice came at the gym this morning. I work out at the Catholic University gym, and there were no pick-up games of basketball. The main gymnasium has special flooring for a dinner that is being thrown for the students by CUA president David O’Connell, CM to honor the Pope’s visit to the campus. But the gym will re-open the day after the visit, so the students can work of those extra calories from the festive meal. More difficult to digest is the expected speech the Pope will deliver at CUA. Along with the address at the UN, the CUA speech will be the most important and substantive speech the Pope will give while here. Some news reports have indicated they anticipate a dressing down for American Catholic Academia, but they’re wrong. The Pope will certainly focus on Catholic identity, but he is not coming all this way to slap wrists. The Pope will give his address at the Great Hall in the student center. I attended the opening of that center which featured a presentation of Leonard Bernstein’s "Mass" by the extraordinarily talented students at CUA’s music school. This is what Catholic identity should be about: the performance of great art and scholarship and culture that spring forth from our Christian faith. It is fitting that Benedict will address the role of Catholic universities in shaping and, indeed, generating culture in the same room. Meanwhile, don’t drive downtown. It’s a mess. And you can leave the basketball at home until Friday. Michael Sean Winters
The Pope Arrives in DC
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
A Homily for Pentecost Sunday, by Father Terrance Klein
For a true Eucharistic revival in our nation, we need to take seriously the command of Christ and the “General Instruction” of the Roman Missal to increase our efforts to give everyone a complete sign of reception of holy Communion.
Pope Leo and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke together by phone today, June 4, for the first time, the Kremlin said.
Although Pope Francis already set Aug. 3 as the date to declare the sainthood of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pope Leo XIV will hold a meeting with cardinals to approve his canonization and that of seven other people.