The first week of November, the Catholic bishops of New England made our ad limina visit to Rome. This was our first visit in seven years as a group (Region I of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), and will be followed by the other 14 regions over the next year. It is the opportunity for us to share with the Vatican our reports of the work of our dioceses over these years. Actually, we sent the reports in July of this year (volumes of materials) to be shared with the Holy Father and the various Congregations in the Vatican prior to our arrival.

The pilgrimage is labeled ad limina because it is a journey to the thresholds of our faith: the burial places of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and the communion with Pope Benedict XVI. We celebrated Mass at the four major basilicas: St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran. We were reminded that our Church, founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, is built on the sacrifices of our early martyrs, the men and women buried in the churches and in the catacombs that grace the Eternal City.

We came to appreciate all the more the significance of the ancient tribute: "O felix Roma, quae duorum principum es consecrata glorioso sanguine," which is translated: "O blessed Rome, which is consecrated by the glorious blood of our two leaders." Saint Peter is buried under the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, in the midst of impressive excavation well below ground. Saint Paul is revered at St. Paul’s Basilica, the walls of which highlight impressive mosaics depicting all the Holy Fathers from Saint Peter to Pope Benedict XVI. When you reflect on the many stories behind those mosaics, you begin to sense the magnitude of the resilience of the Church.

Central to our visit was our meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. He met with us in groups of six, offering many insights and showing himself to be most responsive to the comments we made. Evangelization was a principal topic, as were religious liberty and the difficulties we have in the United States with the practice of our faith as individuals and institutions. We brought up matters of marriage, family life and human life. The horrors of sexual abuse of minors were discussed. We mentioned that Mass attendance had declined in 2002 amid the national notoriety of the problems. We mentioned that sexual abuse of minors is a national and international problem, going well beyond the Catholic Church, but not sufficiently recognized as such. At the same time, we stressed the formation that has been developing for many years and how our Mass attendance is increasing. He was particularly happy to hear the news that while our Archdiocese had six seminarians eight years ago, we now have 47, and there are more preparing to become seminarians. We had five priesthood ordinations in each of the last two years, and are now preparing for eight in the coming year.

We had meetings with various Congregations and Councils during the week: the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. This list reflects the chronological order of our meetings over the week. Special notice was mentioned, at different times, of the Year of Faith,which is being planned for the Church across the world, from Oct. 11, 2012 (the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II), until Nov. 24, 2013, the Feast of Christ the King.

One of the distinctive places that stands out for me in the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, probably the most famous chapel in the world. It hosts Conclaves for the election of Popes and various other significant liturgies. The entire front wall is covered with a fresco by Michelangelo, "The Last Judgment," which he worked on from 1534 to 1541. It reminds me of the Last Judgment scene in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (25:31-46), which gives us the strong criteria for judgment: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, comforting the ill, visiting the imprisoned.

On the right of the painting is represented the Resurrection, and higher, the Ascension of the blessed. On the left is hell and the fall of the condemned. The message is the same for all who view it in person or through pictures around the world. When we make our ad limina pilgrimages and journeys of the spirit, we are reminded not only of the thresholds of our faith but also of the foundational practices of that same faith.

The ancient anonymous saying comes to mind: "One superlative song, existence the cost, but the whole world stills to listen and God in his heaven smiles, because the best is only bought at the cost of great sacrifice."

Pope Benedict XVI extended his Apostolic Blessing to all here in the Archdiocese of Hartford. I assured him of our continued prayers and profound respect for his leadership.

As of this writing, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal totals $9,651,115, which is $560,962 ahead of the total last year at this time. These numbers reflect your strong and effective commitment to the corporal works of mercy and to the tremendous impact you have on people’s lives. Yes, we celebrate Christmas this month, but you bring added depth to the feast precisely by your awareness of your help for those in need all year long. You have my most grateful prayers and deepest appreciation for a Merry Christmas. May God bless you abundantly for the New Year and all the years to come.