Pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Peter

ROME—I’m writing this week from Rome, the Eternal City, where I’m taking part in a Symposium for New Bishops, sponsored by the Vatican Congregation for Bishops. This symposium, sometimes referred to as the “Baby Bishops Conference,” brings together all the new bishops from around the world who were appointed from June 29 (the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul) of the previous year, to June 29 of the current year. The new bishops experience an eight-day orientation, a kind of “boot camp” on the ministry and office of bishops.

There are 116 of us “baby bishops” in this year’s symposium. We represent some 34 countries from as far away as Russia and the Ukraine. There are nine of us from the United States, four auxiliary bishops like myself, and five residential bishops. Most of the presenters are cardinals and archbishops who work in the Roman Curia (the Vatican central offices) and the talks are nearly all in Italian. While I’ve had an opportunity to brush up my Italian, simultaneous translation is provided for all the presentations.

 Some of the titles of the talks include: “The Bishop as Teacher of the Faith,” “The Bishop as Father, Brother, and Friend of His Priests,” “The Bishop as a Man of Prayer and the Spiritual Life,” “The Bishop and Various Bioethical Questions of the Day,” “The Bishop as Promoter of Vocations,” just to name a few. The presenters are experts in their own field, and the talks have been superb. We’ve had the opportunity to break up into various language groups to discuss the particular issues most pressing in our own countries. My group is made up of all the bishops from the United States and Canada.

 The symposium is being held at the Pontifical Athenaeum: Regina Apostolorum, sponsored by Legionaries of Christ. We gather each day in the chapel for chanted morning and evening prayer, as well as a concelebrated Mass with a homily preached by one of the cardinals in the Roman Curia. In addition to liturgical worship, we have ample opportunities for private prayer.  In effect, the whole symposium takes on the nature of a retreat.

 As a new bishop, I’ve found the symposium to be very helpful and informative. Since I worked for 10 years in the Congregation for Bishops, it has been interesting to see it from the other side. It has also been good to be with my brother bishops from around the world, who are also just beginning their episcopal ministry. We’ve been able to discuss many issues and compare notes regarding our common experiences as new bishops.

 It has been more than two and a half years since I left Rome and my work at the Vatican. I’ve been able to visit with a number of my former colleagues and to renew old friendships. While they’ve been working us pretty hard, I have managed to get away for a good meal or two at a few of my old haunts. I also visited one of our Denver priests and a former colleague, Msgr. Anthony McDaid, who is now one of the bureau chiefs at the Congregation for Clergy.

 The highlight of the symposium, however, will be a private audience with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. This will take place on Monday morning, Sept. 22. Each of the new bishops will be introduced to the Holy Father, and we will be able to have a few personal moments with him. I’ve already rehearsed my “few moments” in my own head. I want to thank him personally for the confidence he has placed in me in calling me to be a bishop, and I want to convey the greetings, prayers and best wishes to our Holy Father from our archbishop, our priests, consecrated religious and all the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver.

Returning to Rome as a bishop has reminded me of just how remarkable is the gift of our Catholic faith. On Sunday we will celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Peter—the one to whom our Lord said: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.”  As successors to those first apostles, we bishops are entrusted with the duty and privilege of guiding the people entrusted to our care. May we all be good and holy shepherds, after the Heart of the Good Shepherd.