By Moe Wosepka, Executive Director
Montana Catholic Conference

On April 16, at the welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, under a bright blue sky, Pope Benedict XVI said to all Americans, “As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.”

He continued, “The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.”

I had been invited by the White House, along with Catholic Conference directors from 38 states, to be on the South Lawn, as part of the assembly to welcome the Holy Father to the United States. We were to represent Catholic public policy makers. Also attending were the U.S. bishops, elected officials, and Catholic religious and laity who have dedicated their lives to promoting social justice in this country.

It was an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity. Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush were standing on a platform with the U.S. and Vatican flags fluttering behind them. They were flanked on their left by Supreme Court justices, senators, Congressmen and women, and Cabinet officials. On their right sat the U.S. Cardinals and directly behind them archbishops and bishops from across the country.

It was a day of great pageantry. A combined military color guard presented the colors and the Knights of Columbus, in their colorful regalia, led Catholic youth representing Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Catholic schools to their position directly in front of the center platform. Next, President Bush and Laura Bush were ushered in and they stood to greet Pope Benedict XVI when he arrived. The elite Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps dressed in their Continental Army uniforms proudly performed, after which we stood silent as opera star Kathleen Battle presented a magnificent vocal rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.

It was an awesome experience, but it was no match for the awe-inspiring presence of Pope Benedict XVI, who in this trip stepped out of the shadow of Pope John Paul II. My words cannot sufficiently describe the Holy Father, except to say that he is truly a man of Christ. He is not necessarily what others say he is. He is as he does.

According to the Catholic News Service, one unscheduled event speaks volumes about this Pope. Late on the evening of the 19th, he wanted to greet residents of the New York neighborhood near where he was staying. They included 40 disabled children whose families held them up to receive the Pope’s blessing. Charles Griffin, a parent of one of the disabled children said later, “That’s probably the one human being on earth that is the closest to the Lord.”

He silenced critics with his frontal attack on the clergy sexual abuse issue, and did so in such a way as to appear grandfatherly. He was courageous, and he was positive. He challenged us to set aside our anger and polarization and find ways to address issues of abortion and economic justice without dividing our Church into liberal and conservative camps.

He was afforded the greatest respect at the White House, and was addressed as “His Holiness” by the President. To the youth and many others he was simply “Papa.”

For those of us who were privileged to be part of the events, and those who watched on TV or crowded the roadways to catch a glimpse of the Pope as he went by, his visit was a source of renewal and hope. As one of my friends said after the White House event, “It’s a great time to be a Catholic.”


Moe Wosepka is the executive director of the Montana Catholic Conference. You can reach him by phone at 442-5761, e-mail director@montanacc.org or check out the website www.montanacc.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 5, May 16, 2008.