The best reaction to a visit of the Pope to our country is recorded by the prophet Isaiah. The Lord says: “the Word went forth and will not return to me void” (Is 55:11). All that is to say, in his days in the United States Pope Francis proclaimed the Gospel. The Word of God went forth to achieve the purpose for which it was sent.
For all of the talk of the challenges the Church faces in the United States, the Pope’s visit was a moment for pause. For six days our nation’s attention turned to the man who claims to be the Successor of St. Peter the fisherman and Vicar of Christ on earth. The enormously positive reaction to the Pope’s visit points to the strength and vitality of the faith of the Catholic people in our land.
On his pastoral visit, the Pope preached truths of the Catholic faith that disturb both the right and the left in America. In so doing, he showed that Catholic faith cannot remain in the sanctuary. No area of life should be immune from the Gospel.
What the secular media has trouble understanding, however, is that the Pope never goes anywhere simply as a political figure interested in shaping national politics. Instead, he comes as a pastor to strengthen the Catholic faith of the people. The success of his visit can be judged by whether more people attend Mass and go to Confession. The work remains now to build on the success of his visit for the renewal of faith in our land.
