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Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to USA |
 Papal
Address at White House
"Faith Sheds New Light on All Things"
April 16, 2008
www.zenit.org
Here is the address Benedict XVI gave today at the welcoming
ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, on the first full
day of his apostolic trip to the United States.
Mr. President,
Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the
people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your
invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with
an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in
America: the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the
elevation of the country’s first Diocese -- Baltimore -- to a
metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the Sees of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to
be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a
preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast
pluralistic society. America’s Catholics have made, and continue
to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country.
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.
From the dawn of the Republic, America’s quest for freedom has
been guided by the conviction that the principles governing
political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order
based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this
nation’s founding documents drew upon this conviction when they
proclaimed the "self-evident truth" that all men are created
equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws
of nature and of nature’s God. The course of American history
demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great
intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a
society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In
that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious
beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for
example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights
movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis,
Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to
this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with
America’s Catholic community, but with other Christian
communities and representatives of the many religious traditions
present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but
all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in
accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the
same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each
individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation
faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of
our time, I am confident that the American people will find in
their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an
inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful
dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal
responsibility. Americans know this from experience -- almost
every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who
sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and
abroad. 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. In a word,
freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each
generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of
good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as
clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the
spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native
Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows,
time and again, that "in a world without truth, freedom loses
its foundation", and a democracy without values can lose its
very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic
words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington,
expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality
represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a
world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image
and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that
faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals
the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman
(cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the
strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that
inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society.
Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized,
when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided
by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to
decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.
For well over a century, the United States of America has played
an important role in the international community. On Friday, God
willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations
Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts under way to
make that institution an ever more effective voice for the
legitimate aspirations of all the world’s peoples. On this, the
sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if
all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as
brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that
table which God’s bounty has set for all his children. America
has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate
human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the
victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this
concern for the greater human family will continue to find
expression in support for the patient efforts of international
diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this
way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where
truth, freedom and justice can flourish -- a world where the
God-given dignity and rights of every man, woman and child are
cherished, protected and effectively advanced.
Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United
States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my
joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty
God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of
justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!
© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Bush's Welcome to Benedict XVI
"We Need Your Message That 'God Is Love'"
April 16, 2008
www.zenit.org
Here is the address U.S. President George Bush gave today
upon welcoming Benedict XVI to the White House.
Holy Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the
White House. We welcome you with the ancient words commended by
Saint Augustine: "Pax Tecum." Peace be with you.
You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well, birthdays are
traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is
moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with
us. We wish you much health and happiness -- today and for many
years to come. (Applause.)
This is your first trip to the United States since you ascended to
the Chair of Saint Peter. You will visit two of our greatest cities
and meet countless Americans, including many who have traveled from
across the country to see with you and to share in the joy of this
visit. Here in America you'll find a nation of prayer. Each day
millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking
His grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows upon
us. Millions of Americans have been praying for your visit, and
millions look forward to praying with you this week.
Here in America you'll find a nation of compassion. Americans
believe that the measure of a free society is how we treat the
weakest and most vulnerable among us. So each day citizens across
America answer the universal call to feed the hungry and comfort the
sick and care for the infirm. Each day across the world the United
States is working to eradicate disease, alleviate poverty, promote
peace and bring the light of hope to places still mired in the
darkness of tyranny and despair.
Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of faith
in the public square. When our Founders declared our nation's
independence, they rested their case on an appeal to the "laws of
nature, and of nature's God." We believe in religious liberty. We
also believe that a love for freedom and a common moral law are
written into every human heart, and that these constitute the firm
foundation on which any successful free society must be built.
Here in America, you'll find a nation that is fully modern, yet
guided by ancient and eternal truths. The United States is the most
innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth -- it is also
among the most religious. In our nation, faith and reason coexist in
harmony. This is one of our country's greatest strengths, and one of
the reasons that our land remains a beacon of hope and opportunity
for millions across the world.
Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose
hearts are open to your message of hope. And America and the world
need this message. In a world where some invoke the name of God to
justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message
that "God is love." And embracing this love is the surest way to
save men from "falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and
terrorism."
In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and
discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred, and
that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved" -- (applause) --
and your message that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved,
and each of us is necessary."
In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish
between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this
"dictatorship of relativism," and embrace a culture of justice and
truth. (Applause.)
In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they
wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our
freedom not just for ourselves, but "in a spirit of mutual support."
Holy Father, thank you for making this journey to America. Our
nation welcomes you. We appreciate the example you set for the
world, and we ask that you always keep us in your prayers.
(Applause.)
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