A Light-filled Meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI

Good afternoon everybody. It’s early in the afternoon here on Friday in Rome. It’s actually a snowy day — something that only happens once every few years in the City of Rome.

We’ve just come back from the audience with the Holy Father, all of us bishops from Michigan. It was a wonderful experience. We talked about really all the themes that are important in the pastoral life of the Catholic Church in our diocese. The Holy Father was very sympathetic when we told him about the economic troubles of our region. He assured us of his prayers.

We spent a good bit of time talking about the liturgy. The Holy Father encouraged all of us to do whatever we can to be sure that your experience of the liturgy is an experience of the Church as she exists in every age.

Throughout all of his remarks, and also a theme in our conversation with him, was the New Evangelization, which gives us all great hope for the future – especially the evangelization of families.

And through it all, the Holy Father expressed his support for all of us, his prayers for us bishops and our people. We assured him of your prayers. And the meeting was filled with the sort of Light that comes from faith in Jesus Christ.

So, again, thanks to all of you for your communion in prayer, and be assured of what a blessing it is that we belong to the Church, and that Peter continues to be our leader in the person of Benedict XVI.

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!