Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The world needs hope, the hope that Jesus represents, is the message Benedict XVI wants to share with the United States and the whole world during his trip to the States on 15-20 April where he is also scheduled to visit the headquarters of the United Nations. In a video-message addressed to Catholics and to the people of the United States, he stressed the importance of “hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom,” but hope that “can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God.”
“I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world,” the Pope also said. “Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom, but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfilment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This ‘golden rule’ is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.”
In an address to US Catholics, he said: “Together with your Bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: ‘Christ our hope. Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as Pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father. I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings.
Lastly, the Pontiff said that he will visit only two cities, Washington and New York, but that the intention of his visit “is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States.”
The programme of visit includes Benedict XVI’s arrival in Washington on 15 April where he will be welcomed by US President George W. Bush with whom he will hold talks the next day. On that afternoon he will celebrate Vespers with US bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
On 17 April he will celebrate Mass at Washington’s Nationals Stadium and in the afternoon will meet US Catholic academics at the Catholic University of America.
On the 18 he will travel to New York. In the morning he will visit the United Nations and in the afternoon he will hold an ecumenical meeting at St Joseph’s Church.
The morning of Saturday 19 April will be dedicated to a Mass with priests and men and women religious at St Patrick’s Cathedral. In the afternoon he will meet young people and seminarians at St Joseph’s Seminary.
On Sunday 20 April he will make a moving visit to Ground Zero and in the afternoon will celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium before leaving for Rome.
