Faith and conviction

There is great pomp and pageantry in Rome this weekend. Every year on June 29th, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, newly appointed Archbishops throughout the world travel to Rome to be invested with the pallium, a woollen scarf that is worn over the liturgical vestiture as a sign of their union with the Bishop of Rome.

Forty-three pallia will be distributed this year by the pope, and there are two Canadian Archbishops counted among those who will receive them. To a casual onlooker, this liturgy appears to be an extravaganza, but the truths it speaks of tell a different tale. From the earliest times of the Church, Christians have made pilgrimages to the tombs of the apostles, and this is what the Archbishops are doing. They go to Rome to pray at the tombs of the great apostles Peter and Paul, and to express their unity with Peter’s successor.

In truth, the pallium is a symbol of service. Jesus himself appointed Peter as ‘chief among the apostles’ based on his profession of faith, spoken of in the gospel we heard today, ‘you are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Mt 16:16). This conviction could never have been arrived at if Peter had not first had the opportunity to know Jesus, to live with him, to hear his words, to struggle with the truths he spoke about the kingdom. Peter was a Jew, living under Roman occupation. He was well aware of the oppression with which the Empire ruled. He also knew that Jesus spoke of a different kind of power, born out of service to others, and strengthened not by force or might, but rather by love and forgiveness.

Even the possibility of imprisonment (Acts 12:1-4) did not stop Peter from speaking about Christianity. He boldly called other Jews to believe in a new way of living. Despite the threats of Herod and his army, he called friends and strangers alike to believe that every human being is sacred, that every one of us is loved and that each of us has a place in the eternal home called heaven.

The power and conviction of our faith also caused Saul of Tarsus to change his ways. The book of Acts recounts the fact that he was one of the early Church’s fiercest enemies, but after a dramatic conversion, he became one of the most prolific defenders of Christianity. Paul, a Roman by birth, became a messenger to the gentiles, traveling unceasingly for more than ten years to many parts of the known world. Because of his belief in the power of Christ, the Church also has a rich treasury of his writings contained in the Sacred Scriptures (2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18).

Beginning today, the entire Church throughout the world will observe a Pauline Year in honour of the bimillenium of the birth of Saint Paul. This year of special observance will conclude with the celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul next year. Throughout this coming year, it would be fitting that we each take some time to deepen our knowledge and appreciation for the place Saint Paul has played in our faith history. We can do this by reading and studying the letters he wrote to various Christian communities, and asking for his intercession so that we too can develop the fervour of spirit that allowed him to preach to the gentiles and that enflamed both Paul and Peter with the conviction that lives on in the call to proclaim the value of mercy and divine love, a call given to each of us who call ourselves disciples of the living God.

See no evil

Remember the old saying, 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'? There are some who would venture to say that in an effort to uphold this truism, some have preferred a conspiracy of silence when it comes to some truths.

Agreed, there is a time for speaking the truth, for bringing it to light, and there is a time for keeping some truths in the shadows. Evidence the work published in August 2007 by Geoffrey Robinson, Auxiliary Bishop emeritus of Sydney (Australia). Coauthored with Rev. Donald Cozzens, the work entitled Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church has caused no end of shock waves to reverberate in the world of scholars and of course the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America.

Until recently, Fr. Cozzens has been widely respected for his work in the area of priestly spirituality. His numerous publications speak frankly of the challenges facing priests today and of the love, compassion and creativity needed in some cases to continue as signs of God's love for the world today. However, the publicity that has surrounded this newest work has curiously won him a certain amount of disfavor from those who have previously regarded him so highly.

Bishop Robinson was very highly regarded among his Aussie brothers for his work within the Church down under, especially with regard to taking a proactive role in devising processes within the Church for the prevention of sexual abuse. His work on Confronting Power is a courageous step toward helping the wounded individuals in the Church to begin the healing process which is so badly needed.

Unfortunately, the publication of Confronting Power has not done either of its authors any favors. It has however attracted a certain amount of attention since the truths it speaks of are among those which until now many who are in the know would much rather classify in the category of the fabled monkeys and their proverbial wisdom.

Will this work and others like it be swept under the rug with the hope that they will fade gracefully into that still dark night or will they prove to be catalysts for discussion and healing? Only time will tell.

Celebrating 400 years

The city of Quebec is abuz this week. People from all continents have converged there to participate in the International Eucharistic Congress. Although these International Congresses have been in existence for quite some time, they have rarely taken place in Canada, so this is truly a rare occasion.

Not only have participants come from all parts of the globe, but the presenters themselves have also come from various parts of Europe, from South America, from the United States of America, and points beyond.

This is also an opportunity for the Church to breathe with her two lungs, since both the Eastern and the Western Church are present, benefiting from the wisdom that we share with one another, and the vast experience which enriches us. Some of the Divine Liturgy has been recorded and is available for public viewing, including the Prokeimenon, the Cherubic hymn 'Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim', and the Gregorian song in preparation for the proclamation of the gospel:




In addition, various conferences and catechesis sessions have been recorded. Speakers include the Cardinal Archbishops of Lyon (France), Krakow (Poland), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Washington (USA) and Detroit (USA). In addition, other presentations have been made on the subject of the Eucharist and the Family, and the Eucharist as Communion between peoples.

The IEC concludes on Sunday of this week. More coverage will be posted as it becomes available.

Lessons in humility

Do you pray? If so, who taught you to pray? What is your undersanding of prayer and how does it influence your image of God (or whatever higher power you recognize)?

How we relate to one another can often reflect in the manner after which we relate to God. If someone has grown up in a household where there was much bullying or control then there very well may be a relationship of fear created between that person and God. By contrast, if life comes easily then we may be tempted to expect that God will acquiesce to our every desire.

To be truly wise is to understand that no matter how much power and influence we may have in some spheres, there are always others in which we are perpetual students, and one of these areas is that of faith. We can never presume to have arrived at the pinacle of knowledge when it comes to faith because faith is about relationships, with ourselves, with others and with God. If our conversation with God is genuine, we will be drawn ever deeper into the realization of this truth, and the fact that each of us really plays a very small part in the grand scheme of things.

There has been much discussion and debate about using the Lord's Prayer in various settings as a recognition of faith and not all the details have been flattering for either proponents or antagonists, but it is by no accident that Jesus taught his followers to pray using this precise formula.

Despite our deepest darkest desires, none of us is God, and we do well to acknowledge the fact that we all need to rely on a source other than ourselves for guidance through life. Meanwhile, we are all pilgrims on a journey toward our ultimate destiny, our final abode. From time to time, we do get glimpses of this destination even as we continue on the way, and these are indeed moments to be savoured.

Like a loving parent, God gives us all the food we need so that we can be nourished and strengthened. He never gives us too much of this special food, but just enough to tide us over to the next encounter. Between the moments of our lives when we encounter the sacred, we too are on a journey. We learn, we practice and we teach the lessons of forgiveness, of acceptance and of unbridled love.

Make time for prayer in your life. You might be surprised at the outcome.

Do good

Have you ever stopped to consider the motivation for what you do?

Busy people know that in order to get through all the tasks set before us, it is sometimes necessary to just function on auto-pilot, but to do this for any but a controlled length of time leaves the door wide open to the possibility that the do-gooder will eventually fall victim to his-her own desire to do, and forget how to be.

The true philanthropist does good work simply with the aim of making someone else happy. There's an immeasurable amount of reward in the doing if the aim is to truly make a difference in someone's life (usually someone other than oneself). Could it be that truth be known, it happens at least on occasion that people do good so that they themselves will somehow be assuaged from the guilt of too much success, or too much abundance? The problem with this attitude is that no matter how much good we do, guilt is never completely expunged.

By contrast, goodness breeds goodness, so acts of kindness which are motivated by love and genuine concern are infectious and often lead the beneficiaries of benevolence to themselves do small acts of kindness. The old saying holds true, 'tis better to light one candle than to curse the darkness'.

Where is there darkness in our lives today? Are there opportunities for us to spread even a little light in such places, bringing joy to the sorrowful and hope to the despairing? Every little bit counts.

One step closer

The Vatican undersecretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Pietro Parolin returned this week from a three-day meeting with high ranking officials in Vietnam, including Foreign Minister Pham Gia Kiem. The purpose of this meeting was to continue the process of negotiations toward the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Vietnam. There is still lots of work to do on that front, but at least there is an agreement now that discussions from this point onward will be frank, open and constructive.

Catholics in Vietnam only count for about 7% of the total population but Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung did visit the pope in the Vatican in January 2007, so there is at least a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Establishing diplomatic relations is a long and tedious process, and it often takes many years of vigilence and fine tuning.

This meeting is part of the ongoing efforts by the Vatican to strengthen relations with countries where there are only limited agreements and to attempt collaboration with those who progress in good will toward the possibility of lasting peace for the good of all people.

Knowing at least the highlights of some of the behind-the-scenes work that continues at the Vatican can help those of us who struggle at times to keep the peace within our own little worlds to appreciate the delicate balance that must be maintained especially when relations on the world stage are still at the very fledgling stages.

Considering the potential outcome of botched diplomatic negotiations, one wonders whether some nuclear families, people in the business world and those who fight for the rights of workers would not do well to practice the finer points of this balet. Of course, the same lessons also apply to the world of establishing and maintaining friendships and acquaintances.

Celebrating 400 years, day 1

The festival has begun. After more than four years of preparation, the city of Quebec came to life today with the beginning of the 49th International Eucharistic Congress.

More than 10,000 pilgrims are converging on the city this weekend:



The festivities began with a celebration of life:



and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament which was brought into the worship space along with the Ark of the New Covenant which has been traveling across Canada in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress:



The opening ceremonies were a wash of colour and pagentry:



More will be published in the coming days. Stay tuned.

A compassionate look

Yesterday morning I visited with some very good friends. The meeting was brief but the significance was profound. I've known this family for almost 20 years and it was very good to see them all gathered together. There are some new additions which fill the air with laughter and the promise of life, and this is very good.

The purpose of our visit was to celebrate life, the life of a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather who together with his wife had instilled in their children and consequently in further generations the faith that animates them even to this day. He taught them the simple truths about love, about family about welcoming strangers and making them feel at home, about building bridges and celebrating life.

Great nono as he is known to the younger generations was reunited with our creator a number of months ago, but even to his final day in this world, he continued to teach the lessons of life. As we interred his ashes yesterday, memories came flooding back about these very valuable lessons, and about his wife who he now sees face to face for all eternity. Great nono taught many lessons, including the value of compassion. None of us can live honest and truthful lives if we are not first willing to truly learn the lesson of compassion. How else would we be able to walk beside the humble, struggling with them to understand that ultimately only He can determine the length of our days, the struggles and the joys that we will encounter, and the most valuable gifts of all ... openness of heart to accept our part in the continual unfolding of the mystery we call God.

When great nona died a number of years ago, I could not be present at her parting. Instead I remember music being the key to my spiritual union with all those who bid her farewell in trust and love. This time, I am grateful to have played a very small part in the human rituals of sending great nono on his way home.

Compassion is key to living a life of faith. Without it, we can never hope to be genuine in our quest to follow in the Master's footsteps. Further reflections on this theme might very properly include a look at the special gift of the Eucharist, given for the life of the world, and the ways in which we are called to use this gift for the building up of the family of God.

Facebook for Catholics

Many people may be aware of the popular networking internet page called FACEBOOK. For years, this site has offered young and older internet gurus the possibility to interact with their friends in cyberspace. Now there's another option open to Catholics who want to network with friends in a specifically Catholic environment.

George Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney launched xt3.com today. This site which is part of the social networking that has been developed as part of the preparation for next month's World Youth Day celebrations promises to bring yet another new level of communication to life for those who will attend the WYD celebrations, as well as those who cannot physically be present, but who want to interact with other young people who are asking questions about faith, and looking for ways to find people of faith to chat with or to socialize with.

Cardinal Pell himself has reportedly joined this online community, although he professes his lack of knowledge about the online world, and he has invited 100 other young people to join him as the earliest members of this cyberspace community.

The organizing committee for the 2008 WYD gathering have introduced a number of innovations including an online registration system which allows the organizing team to maintain contact with group leaders as well as individual participants through email. Considering the fact that they are expecting approximately 250,000 participants, this is a mammoth undertaking, but so far it seems to be meeting with great success. Group leaders receive periodic updates providing information about tourism in Australia as well as reminders to make sure that their group members are properly prepared for the one-week experience which will take place in just less than 35 days' time.

The countdown is on. By now final arrangements are well underway for those who will soon be visiting down under, and the WYD gang appear to be well on their way to preparing the terrain for what promises to be one of Australia's largest gatherings ever. Throughout the history of the World Youth Days, the international gatherings have had a positive effect on stimulating interest and growth among the local Catholic populations. If the preparations which have taken place so far are any indication of the extent to which the Aussies will go to make sure that foreign visitors encounter Christ during their stay, this WYD promises to be a special encounter not only for the WYD participants, but for the local population as well.

33 days to go.

The apology

It's been a very long time in coming, but finally this afternoon at 3:00 pm EDT the Prime Minister of Canada stood in the House of Commons to deliver a formal apology to the First Nations people of this country who suffered abuse during their stay at government sponsored residential schools from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

Today's apology voiced in the Canadian parliament comes only four months after a similar apology was spoken by the Prime Minister of Australia. The close proximity of these two events speaks volumes about the fact that both countries have been conscious of the betrayal that aboriginal people have had to endure during the past centuries, and the common errors which have been made throughout history by those who were involved in introducing European culture to the new world.

Surrounded by other Members of Parliament, the Prime Minister spoke to eleven aboriginal leaders who had been invited to sit in the House of Commons. They represented the various First Nations people who are found throughout the country, and whose people were forced to attend the residential schools in Canada for a period of more than 100 years, ending only in the late 1990s.

Initial reports, which have been flooding the airwaves all afternoon, speak of gratitude for the words of apology which have been so long in coming. This milestone represents a major development in the long battle for the acceptance of blame for having forced thousands of Canada's First Nations people to be re-programmed, effectively denouncing the validity of their traditional customs and beliefs.

Reactions to the apology are mixed. While some accept the Prime Minister's words with grateful hearts, others will need to test the honesty of that which has been said, and this will take place in the coming weeks and months as the fallout from this day comes to light.

The road to recovery is long, and often has many twists and turns which must be negotiated. Each person who was effected by the residential school experience, and all of their descendants will eventually have to travel that road. In the meanwhile, efforts at promoting reconciliation are well under way in many parts of Canada and are meeting with various levels of success. Now that the apology has been spoken the proverbial ball has been thrown into the courts of those who must either accept it or not.

Truth be known, this day represents a great development in the process of reconciliation. What happens next remains to be seen.

Righting the wrongs

Today is a momentous day in the parliament of Canada. The Prime Minister is going to offer a former apology on behalf of the government to the First Nations people who were forced into residential schools in this country during the period from 1840 to 1996.

The official speech will be covered on CBC Radio and Television beginning at 3:00 pm EDT. In the meanwhile, there has been more than a little time devoted to spreading the news that this milestone in the recovery of so many who suffered at the hands of those responsible for the residential schools has finally arrived.

In anticipation of the apology being delivered, parliament hill is all abuzz because the procedure being put in place for the speech does not allow for public interventions on the part of any of the aboriginal leaders who will be in attendance in the House of Commons.

Over the past few years, various procedures have been put into place in an effort to bring some resolution or restitution to the alleged abuse or other harm suffered by students at residential schools in various parts of Canada. The schools were commissioned by the Federal Government and entrusted to the care of various church groups, including various Roman Catholic religious orders and the United Church of Canada.

Aside from the long-awaited apology from the Federal Government, there has been some measure of success with more informal meetings between former students in the residential schools and those who are facilitating some manner of healing. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission has not always had an easy road to travel, but the work of making peace is proceeding albeit slowly.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the national association of Bishops in this country greeted the formation of the TRC favorably. In fact, much work in this regard has been accomplished due to the continuing efforts put forth by various church groups. The process of reconciliation is never easy, and is most often ongoing for quite some time, however some very good signs are present: signs of peacemaking that has been a long time coming.

More on this issue to come, once the official apology has been spoken, and the fallout begins to shed its own shade of light.

FOCUS on health

What happens when teachers, health care workers, members of the local police force and other interested individuals get together? The answer is, 'some pretty interesting stuff'. There were about fifteen people present as participants shared a healthy lunch and then listened to the buzz about recent happenings in the area.

The particular focus of this meeting is the health of the community, specifically various means to promote healthy living among the local population. There are many facets to promoting health including helping individuals who are food insecure to find sustainable sources of healthy meals, assisting those with chemical and drug dependencies to face the truths from which they may be hiding, and creating environments where strangers can feel welcome.

From the very beginning of the discussion, I could tell that those who were there had a keen interest in what they were doing, and that they are all devoted to promoting healthy living within their own spheres of influence. Various activities including drug awareness among youth, especially as many high school students are preparing for graduation ceremonies; planting and caring for a traditional medicine garden, using the sacred medicines known and revered by the anishanabec people; and training in adictions councelling continue to chip away at the ever-present danger of falling victim to wayward lifestyles.

In truth, it's all about providing the tools so that people can be the best at what they do and at who they are, for if we have truly learned the lessons of life, we never stop marveling at life.

Hope springs eternal

In the early spring, the Canadian Cancer Society holds a major fundraising effort during which they sell dafodils. A little later in the summer, usually in June, the Cancer Society holds its annual Relay for Life.

For many years now, I have heard of the Relay which is an occasion for cancer survivors and their family and friends to commemorate those who have lost their battle with this disease, and to do something concrete to personify the hope that is always present for those who must so often watch from the sidelines while those we love suffer.

This past Friday, the annual Relay for Life was held here in Sudbury, and in most parts of Ontario. For the first time, I was able to participate. I was absolutely blown away to see the magnitude of this gathering. There was a sea of tents where some of the participants would spend the night. Fruit and water for the walkers was provided courtesy of some of the generous donors.

I arrived just in time to witness the victory lap. The overnight Relay begins with cancer survivors, adorned in yellow t-shirts, each carrying a brightly coloured balloon. Accompanied by their family and friends, the survivors walk one lap around the track and then release their balloons which float away in an explosion of colour. Participants walk laps of the track all through the night, ending at 7:00 am the next day. In the meanwhile, there is a variety of musical acts, and activities for children.

Perhaps most striking of all are the luminaries, candles which encircle the track and which are lit at dusk. The luminaries burn throughout the night as tributes to those who have lost their battle with cancer, or as tributes to those who are cancer survivors. In the case of the Sudbury Relay, luminaries were also placed in the stands overlooking the university track, spelling out the word HOPE in English, French and Ojibway.

Nestled among the tents which encircled the track, there was even a TeePee, a quiet but valuable reminder of the Ojibway First Nations who joined their prayer with ours as we all remembered loved ones who have battled cancer.

My experience of the Relay was so poignant that I reflected upon it in my weekly homily. Although I recognize that it may be very difficult for some cancer survivors to participate in the Relay, for various reasons, the truth is that this is one of the most poignant expressions of hope that I have seen because there is room for survivors, mourners and 'innocent' bystanders to participate in a physical activity while uniting their efforts and prayers for the suffering as well as for the repose of the souls of those who have died. Prayers are also offered on that night, as always, for the family and friends who must stand and watch as their loved ones battle for their lives.

What a tribute to life! What a tribute to love! What a tribute to all those who discover the true strength of love, the strength to overcome all adversity.

An attitude of gratitude

There are a few cracks in the walls that are beginning to show, and if we don't do something about them, they will only continue to worsen. Don't worry, at least for the moment, they probably won't fall down, but there's not much time to consider how to fix the problem.

The metaphor of which I speak is the real problem of world hunger. For many years, some proponents have been crying the wind about the ever-present problem of world hunger, but only in recent months does it seem that hunger has become a concern on the world stage. At least there are signs that some conversation is taking place about how to address the shortage of basic staples for our ever-growing population.

One of the theories that has been advanced is that the growing concerns for bio-fuels, in an effort to be more conscious about the long-term effects of basing our entire economy on non-renewable resources, has some inherent danger built in. The efforts to grow crops for the sole use of the production of bio-fuels has resulted at least in some cases with a decreased amount of arable land that can be used for the growing of food.

Admittedly, the problem is much greater than just the issue of bio-fuels. Over the past number of years, there have been steady decreases in the subsidies offered to farmers and since the prices of grains and other commodities on the world markets have also declined, it is not economically feasible in many cases for food to be grown in vast quantities.

We can continue to debate the issue. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization's summit, which wrapped up in Rome yesterday, might actually have come up with some real solutions, but the challenge is not to identify the solutions; it's putting them into practice. In the meanwhile, the bigger picture is just beginning to emerge and the long-term effects are rather daunting.

Hunger due to rising prices is already a force to be dealt with in places such as China, India and Vietnam but there is news from Nigeria that a seminary which currently houses more than 500 priests-in-the-making may have to be closed in the coming weeks because there just isn't enough food to go around.

Some very few of us have the means and the power to make things happen on this front. For the vast majority though, we may hear the news and we may even experience it personally, but when all is said and done, there is very little that we can do other than to pray for those who are suffering. I for one have a renewed awareness of the abundance that surrounds me, and pray every day for an attitude of gratitude for all that we have been given.

The Church in the modern world

Almost 43 years ago, the council fathers, gathered in Rome for the Second Vatican Council published the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the modern world (Gaudium et Spes, literatlly translated as 'The joys and the hopes'). One of the last documents to be published before the conclusion of the Council, it outlines the pastoral plan of how the Church should move ahead, reflecting the joys that are to be recognized and celebrated and the hopes of God's people.

Since the conclusion of the Vatican Council, we have continued to struggle in various ways as we try to implement the wisdom that was discussed, gleaned and hoped for during that four-year period (the Council began in 1962 and ended in 1965). Perhaps the struggle that we have faced is not so different from that which many individuals face when we dream of the person we want to be, the person that God has in mind for us. Even if we have a good idea about who we want to be, developing the traits of that person are not always easy. There are always bumps and grinds along the way. There are often twists and turns in the road that were never anticipated, but from which we learn some valuable lessons.

In the past forty-some years, our world has evolved as well, at an ever-increasing pace. We sometimes struggle to keep up to all the changes. Technological advances and the tools at our disposal are one thing, but finding the words to speak to today's generations about the joys and hopes of today can sometimes be a much more difficult task.

Although society in general seems to be ignoring the voice of the Church in some situations, all in the name of multi-cultural inclusion, there are still many who look to the Church for guidance, and we must be willing and able to provide the inspiration; otherwise we run the serious risk of being branded as 'lukewarm'.

In just two weeks time, the 49th International Eucharistic Congress will take place in Quebec City. His Eminence, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec City recently voiced his own joys and hopes about the Congress. It is his fervent dream that the Congress would "draw the attention of the Catholic and secular media, so that people will realize that the Church is very much involved at the heart of the world bringing hope, love and strength to people committed to peace."

Let's all make some space in our lives for sharing good news with our world.

Enough for everyone

Have you ever known the pain of hunger? Has your stomach ever growled at a most inopportune time, leaving you at least somewhat embarrassed and hurrying to finish the business at hand so that you could tend to the pressing need to fill the void that is causing your digestive juices to do a dance?

Count yourself extremely lucky.

It seems strange that in today's world where some of us are surrounded by such abundance, there is still a problem of hunger in our world. Adults and children alike in places far and near just don't have enough to eat, and it's not because they choose this plight.

They say that pictures say a thousand words. One of the most graphic illustrations of the imbalance of power that exists, at least as far as access to food is concerned, can be seen in an on-line presentation entitled One Week's Worth of Food Around our Planet. Not only does this illustrate how much food we consume, but it also gives the average cost of food per week in various parts of the world. Prices are stated in local currencies and in US$ (for the sake of comparison). What I find most poignant is the disparity between the relative opulence of some tables and the stark reality that some of us have so very little. It sure makes you think, and give thanks.

The problem of world hunger is also the topic of discussion at a summit taking place in Rome this week. Representatives from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization are there to discuss the challenges that climate change and bioenergy place on the world's food supply. As the three-day conference began yesterday, the Vatican's Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone read a prepared statement on behalf of the Holy Father.

"Hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world which has, in fact, levels of production, resources and knowledge sufficient to put an end to such dramas and their consequences," the Pope said. "The great challenge of today is to 'globalize,' not just economic and commercial interests, but also the call for solidarity, while respecting and taking advantage of the contribution of all components of society."

The pope called on the delegates to take action in order to guarantee a right to food for all people. He told them that it is a matter of justice that we concern ourselves with feeding all those who hunger. To do otherwise would be to deny that the primary right to food is intrinsically linked to the safeguarding and defense of human life.

The FAO summit concludes tomorrow.

On the move

On Friday of this past week, the Vatican Press Office published the itinerary of the Holy Father's apostolic journey to Australia. A number of months ago, the plan to attend the 23rd World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney were confirmed, but the details of his travels have only now been made public.

Besides attending the official welcoming ceremonies on Thursday, July 17, during which he will meet more than 250,000 youth who will be on the shores of Darling Harbour in Sydney, and the overnight vigil which will take place at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday evening, he will preside at the closing liturgy which will take place at Randwick on Sunday morning, July 20.

In addition to his activities with young people, the Holy Father will benefit from his visit to Oceania to pay courtesy visits to the Governor General of Australia and to meet with representatives of other religious traditions in Sydney. He will also visit with bishops, priests and seminarians and novices from various dioceses throughout Australia.

The details of his visit in Australia are in some ways similar to his recent visit to Washington, DC and New York, when he paid visits to various representatives of other religious traditions as well as seminarians, priests, bishops and civil authorities. In truth, the pastoral visit to Australia is a continuation of the pontiff's pastoral responsibility to care for all the souls who are united in faith. Benedict XVI is continuing the commitment begun by his predecessor John Paul II toward the promotion of World Youth Day, a special international gathering of youth, but is also taking advantage of these voyages to visit with others and to build relationships with representatives of other Christian and non-Christian traditions.