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Faith Alive!- No. 15 MIDST Apr-7-2008
Papal trips: More than just a news event
By Sharon Roulier
Catholic News Service
With 104 trips outside Italy, Pope John Paul II was the most widely traveled pope in history.
When many people, including those in the Roman Curia, asked why he traveled to foreign countries, Pope John Paul would respond by saying the trips he was making to the local churches demonstrated that they "have a place in the universal church," said John Thavis, Catholic News Service Rome bureau chief, who has covered papal trips since 1984.
Thavis said Pope Benedict XVI vowed at the beginning of his papacy in 2005 not to travel as much as his predecessor. "However, he's already done seven foreign visits," Thavis noted. "Once you're pope, it's hard to say no when people invite you to go."
So far Pope Benedict XVI has traveled to Germany twice, and once to Turkey, Brazil, Poland, Spain and Austria.
The pope will make his first visit to the United States as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church in April. The six-day trip will begin April 15 in Washington and continue to New York City. The trip is historic, with the pope addressing the United Nations General Assembly, meeting with President George W. Bush and visiting ground zero.
There will be several public events during the visit, including Mass at Nationals Park in Washington and Yankee Stadium in New York. A full itinerary is available at www.uspapalvisit.org and at www.catholicnews.com/papalvist.
"It's important for the pope that he visit the U.S.," said Thavis. "The Catholic Church in the United States is very important in the universal church, and in the United States it is important as well. I'm certain he wanted to visit the U.S. at least once in his pontificate."
"Christ Our Hope" is the theme of the papal visit.
The pope sees his U.S. visit "as a time to encourage people, and we're hoping it is also a time of renewal for people," said Helen Osman, secretary for communications for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There have been more than 5,000 requests for media credentials to cover the pope's travels in the U.S., said Osman. "It's a wonderful challenge, trying to accommodate all that interest. We want to keep the solemnity and spirituality of the event while realizing that the modern communications media can be a great partner in helping us to get the good news out."
When the pope travels to other countries, the "local press is filled with stories about the pope and the Catholic Church, which generates good publicity," said Thavis. It often brings world interest to the country he visits.
As for the pope, his world travels also serve to widen his vision, said Thavis. "They're learning too," he said of the popes who have traveled to foreign lands, "especially if they're going to Third World countries."
Preparations have been underway for the pope's trip to the U.S. since early last fall, with much of the work being handled by the local church in cooperation with the Vatican.
"It's very complicated and very detailed," but the Vatican advance team has experience in planning papal trips for 30 years, said Thavis. Once the cities are chosen following many talks, an advance team comes to the location selected two or three times and considers the following details:
-- What time the pope will arrive?
-- How close will he get to the people?
-- Will he say anything?
-- Is there a sound system?
-- What will the stage look like?
-- What is the security situation?
-- Will there be a motorcade?
-- If he's in a building, does it have an elevator?
-- How many steps will he walk from the car to where he is going?
The Vatican advance team will also review the liturgies which are planned by the local dioceses.
Keep in mind too that the pope does not travel alone. He flies on a chartered airplane, usually leaving Italy on Alitalia. He is accompanied by an entourage of 20 to 25 from the Vatican, along with 50 to 70 journalists who also require seating and lodging during all events.
Much of the papal visit will be broadcast on local television and cable stations across the country. Osman said streaming video will be available on www.uspapalvisit.org. And the Catholic Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio is expected to provide coverage.
Certainly not everyone will be able to be present for each of the pope's engagements while in the U.S., but Osman encourages Catholics to think about what the pope's visit means to them personally, for it is more than just a news event.
The pope's U.S. visit "can be an opportunity for people to participate in the church in a rather unique way," Osman said. "We hope people will stop and ask themselves, 'What is my relationship with the church and within the larger community?' We want the pope's message to inspire people during and following the days he is with us."
(Roulier is a reporter for The Catholic Observer and host of the television magazine "Real to Reel" produced by the Catholic Communications Office of the Diocese of Springfield, Mass.)
END
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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