By CINDY WOODEN
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY - Almost 60 years have passed since a Catholic president of the United States visited a pope at the Vatican. When President John F. Kennedy was preparing for his meeting with the new Pope Paul VI in July 1963, people were wondering if he would kiss the pope's ring, a traditional sign of defer- ence, but one that could have been problematic for a presi- dent already dealing with questions about whether his church or his country came first. The pope did not seem to mind shaking his hand. Protocols and popes have changed. Today, Pope Fran- cis prefers guests not kiss his ring. President Joe Biden will be the 14th U.S. president - and the second Catholic president - to meet a pope at the Vatican. Unlike Kennedy, ques- tions about Biden's faith are coming mainly from within the Catholic community be- cause of his support for legal- ized abortion. Pope Francis is scheduled to welcome Biden to the Vati- can at noon Oct. 29, soon after the president arrives in Italy to participate in the G-20 Summit, which will fo- cus on the COVID-19 pan- demic and global health, the global economy and climate change. The first U.S. president to visit the Vatican was Wood- row Wilson, who met with Pope Benedict XV in 1919 while on a European tour after World War I. Then, a full 40 years later, Dwight D. Eisenhower met Pope John XXIII in 1959. Since then, each U.S. pres- ident has made a trip to the Vatican. Meeting Pope Paul VI were Kennedy in 1963; Lyn- don B. Johnson in 1967; Rich- ard M. Nixon in 1969 and 1970; and Gerald R. Ford in 1975. Jimmy Carter was the next to visit, meeting Pope John Paul in 1980. Ronald Reagan met him in 1982 and 1987, as well as after leaving office. George H.W. Bush met him in 1989 and 1991. Bill Clinton came to the Vatican in 1994. George W. Bush met Pope John Paul in 2001 at the pa- pal villa in Castel Gandolfo and at the Vatican in 2002 and 2004. In addition to at- tending Pope John Paul's fu- neral in 2005, he visited the Vatican in 2007 and again in 2008 to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. Kennedy's time in the ap- ostolic palace included a pri- vate meeting with the pope and an exchange of gifts - a copy of Michelangelo's Piet for the president and a desk set engraved with the papal and presidential seals for the pope - but also a speech from Pope Paul. A formal speech to a visit- ing president was a staple element in papal audiences in the pontificates of St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II, but now has disappeared. Meeting Kennedy, Pope Paul praised the United States as a "noble nation" that had been and continued to be generous in helping the world's poorer nations, and he lauded the president for promoting "the higher moral principles of truth, of justice and of liberty" in his speeches. Aware of the ongoing civil rights movement, the pope said St. John XXIII "present- ed anew to the world the church's constant teaching on the dignity of the individ- ual human person, a dignity which the almighty Creator bestowed in creating man to his own image and likeness." "We are ever mindful in our prayers of the efforts to ensure to all your citizens the equal benefits of citizenship, which have as their founda- tion the equality of all men because of their dignity as persons and children of God," the pope told Kennedy. Pope Paul welcomed Pres- ident Lyndon B. Johnson to the Apostolic Palace at 9 p.m. Dec. 23, 1967. The late hour meant no formal speeches. But the Vatican's longer-than-usual statement on the meeting said the two focused on the war in Viet- nam and the pope's "deep and painful apprehension" over the escalating conflict and its victims. Coming so close to Christ- mas, the pope gave Johnson a 16th-century painting of the Nativity. The president gave the pope a bust of him- self, which the Vatican year- book, "Attivit della Santa Sede," described only as "a fine sculpture in bronze." Abortion became legal across the United States with the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade in 1973. In addi- tion to always reminding the United States of its respon- sibility for promoting peace and aiding development, Pope John Paul's speeches to visiting U.S. presidents consistently called for respect for human life from concep- tion to natural death. A papal speech is not ex- pected as part of President Biden's visit. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, said the two "will discuss working togeth- er on efforts grounded in re- spect for fundamental hu- man dignity, including end- ing the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis and caring for the poor." Biden knows what Pope Francis thinks about abor- tion; whether the two will talk about it specifically is hard to guess.
Catholic News Service
EL PASO, Texas - The Biden administration must issue an immediate termina- tion of the Migrant Protec- tion Protocols, also known as the "Remain in Mexico" policy, El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz said Oct. 25. "God's word on how we should treat people forced to migrate is clear: We must welcome and protect," he said in a statement released by the Catholic Legal Immigra- tion Network. "As the bishop of El Paso, I have seen first- hand the impact of disastrous policies of deterrence at the border such as 'Remain in Mexico.' " "President Biden, as a per- son who values your Catholic faith and the leader of our country, I implore you to act immediately to end 'Remain in Mexico' and put in place at the border humane policies which uphold the value and dignity of every human be- ing," Bishop Seitz said. He said the "Remain in Mexico" policy "causes need- less suffering for those forced to flee who have come to our doorstep in need of protec- tion. It is time to heal, to restore our commitment to asylum, and in the words of the Holy Father, move 'toward an ever wider we.' " The bishop was quoting the theme of Pope Francis' message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refu- gees Sept. 26. "Bless each act of welcome and outreach that draws those in exile into the 'we' of community and of the church, so that our earth may truly become what you your- self created it to be: the com- mon home of all our brothers and sisters," said a prayer, in part, which the pope included in his statement. Bishop Seitz also criticized the continued enforcement of Title 42, another Trump-era immigration policy the Biden administration has kept in place. Title 42 is a provision of U.S. health policy enacted during the Trump administra- tion that turns away certain immigrants at the border as part of public health measures to contain the coronavirus. The Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP, forces cer- tain asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to wait in Mexico for their cases to be adjudicated. "The policy is deadly," CLINIC said in a news re- lease with Bishop Seitz's statement. "It has resulted in asylum-seekers being ex- torted, raped, and murdered, and made it impossible for them to access legal assis- tance and other resources." Shortly after he was in- augurated Jan. 20, Biden suspended the policy, but the U.S. Supreme Court re- cently ordered the Biden ad- ministration to reinstate the policy. Officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it would begin to be enforced sometime in November. "While the administration has taken the stance that the restart of 'Remain in Mexico' is compelled by the courts, legal experts have made clear to the administration that a termination memo can be is- sued immediately," CLINIC said. Immigrant advocates re- cently walked away from an online meeting with Biden administration officials to protest a move that will revive a Trump-era policy blocking people seeking asy- lum from entering the United States. During a Zoom meeting Oct. 16, one of the advocates read a statement expressing disappointment with the ad- ministration's latest decision and asked those on the call to walk away from the virtual gathering. It was the latest show of discontent among immigrant groups that once saw Biden as "an ally" on immigration issues.
2 WWW.THERECORDNEWSPAPER.ORG LOCAL / NATION THE RECORD OCTOBER 28, 2021
CNS File Photo
President John F. Kennedy is pictured with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican July 2, 1963. When Pope Francis meets U.S. President Joe Biden at the Vatican Oct. 29, it will mark only the second time a Catholic president has met the pope at the Vatican.
Texas bishop urges Biden to end the 'Remain in Mexico' policy Pope, Biden to meet on Oct. 29
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34th African American Catholic History celebration set for Nov. 6
The Archdiocese of Louisville's Office of Multicultural Ministry will host the 34th annual African American Catholic History Celebration at noon Nov. 6 at the Ca- thedral of the Assumption, 433 S. Fifth St. The event's theme is "Here I Am, Send Me: Missionary Discipleship." The OMM will also offer the class "Introduction to Af- rican American Catholic History in the U.S.," from 9:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 13 at the Catholic Enrichment Center, 3146 W. Broadway. The cost is $10 per person. COVID-19 safety guidelines, including wearing a mask, will be followed at both events. For more information about these events or to register for the class, call the office at 471-2146.
CEC is offering free rapid COVID-19 at-home testing kits
The Archdiocese of Louisville's Office of Multicultural Ministry is offering free rapid COVID-19 test kits. The kits are available through the Say Yes! COVID Test ini- tiative - a new at-home testing program launched by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Up to four kits per household may be picked up through Nov. 13 at the Catholic Enrichment Center, 3146 W. Broadway. The Say Yes! COVID Test campaign "encourages resi- dents to use the test twice a week regardless of symptoms, to reduce the spread of coronavirus and keep the com- munity healthy," according to an announcement from the Office of Multicultural Ministry. The rapid home test, approved by the FDA, requires a "quick swab" inside each nostril and the results are available within 10 minutes, said the announcement. Individuals are not required to provide personal informa- tion to get the kits. For more information, call 776-0262.
Epiphany is collecting winter coats through Nov. 22 for annual giveaway
The Church of the Epiphany, 914 Old Harrods Creek Road, is collecting new and gently used winter coats now through Nov. 22 for the 11th annual Free Coat Exchange. Free Coat Exchange is a local non-profit whose mission is to encourage "exchange amongst community. ... Those who can, donate a coat; those who need, take a coat," ac- cording to the group's website. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 26 this year, the community is invited to pick up winter coats from locations around the city. For a full list of collection and pick-up sites, visit www. freecoatexchange.org. Coats donated at Epiphany will be taken to La Casita Center, said Brayton Bowen, who coordinates the coat drive for Epiphany. La Casita Center serves Hispanic and Latino families. Donations for Epiphany should be left on the back porch of Epiphany House on the parish's campus.
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