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The welcome mat is out.
Pope Francis will be here next week on his first-ever visit to the United States, and New Yorkers are ready to embrace him and the message of peace, mercy and care for the poor that’s become the hallmark of his papacy.
And while the millions of Americans who admire and respect the pope for his moral leadership and as an influential figure in world affairs, which he certainly is, we Catholics have still another reason to anticipate his arrival on our shores.
For despite the hoopla, the wall-to-wall media coverage and the crowds, Pope Francis is first and foremost our pastor. He’s our spiritual leader, our Holy Father, our Number One evangelist and the top ambassador for our faith.
And for those reasons especially, we look forward to seeing him up close, listening to his teachings, and praying with him while he’s with us. We need no convincing that his words and example will have a positive impact not just on Catholics in the archdiocese but on many others as well.
As Cardinal Dolan said in an interview beginning on Page 2 of this issue, “We need some spiritual adrenaline pumping in the city.”
Will that “adrenaline” translate into increased attendance at Mass and reception of the sacraments? Will we see a rise in vocations as a result of the papal visit? We don’t know, but bishops and other observers say they’ve seen it happen before that a visit from a pope can provide a real boost to the local Church.
However, as much as we eagerly await Pope Francis for his pastoral leadership, we’re also very mindful that his Sept. 19-27 visit to our part of the world has broader implications.
The journey starts in Cuba, for instance, just after that Caribbean nation and the United States renewed diplomatic relations—thanks to talks facilitated and personally pushed by the pope—after more than 50 years of hostilities.
Francis then travels to Washington, D.C., where he’ll meet with President Barack Obama at the White House and address a joint session of Congress, with speculation that in either or both places his remarks could touch on U.S. immigration reform and global climate change.
His Sept. 25 address to the United Nations in New York, where he’ll speak as the Vatican head of state, is another spot where climate change could be on the agenda, as could the migrant crisis in Europe—both issues that the pope has spoken out on recently.
Finally, in Philadelphia the pope will deliver a homily at the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families, a massive conference that underlines the importance placed by the Church and the pope himself on maintaining and strengthening Catholic family life.
So with all that we see the pope doing for others on this trip: for us as individual Catholics, for the Church and its commitment to the family, and for whatever global issues he tackles, we’d like to do something for the pope in return.
As his hosts in the archdiocese, we’re hoping he’ll be as awestruck as we are with our magnificently restored St. Patrick’s Cathedral, that he’ll be moved by the somber majesty of the 9/11 Memorial, and amazed at the autumnal beauty of Central Park.
We know he’ll delight in the students he meets at Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, and at the exuberant New York-style welcome he’ll get at the Mass in Madison Square Garden.
So, welcome, Pope Francis. We can’t wait to be with you.
