ad Limina 2010: Bishops of England and Wales meet with Pope Benedict
Every five years, our Diocesan Bishops make an Ad Limina visit to Rome to meet with the Holy Father to discuss their diocesan ministry and to make a pilgrimage to the threshold of the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
The bishops are in Rome from 24 January until 4 February 2010.
What does ad Limina mean?
The translation from Latin is "to the threshold".
The Rt Rev Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, explains more in a Pastoral Letter to the people of his diocese sent just prior to leaving for Rome:
"[The Ad Limina] derives from the ancient practice of Bishops going on pilgrimage to the threshold of the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. There is evidence that this custom of ad Limina visits has taken place in different forms since at least the fourth century."
What is the purpose of the ad Limina?
There are three important parts to the ad Limina:
- The pilgrimage to, and veneration of, the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul
- A personal meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI
- Meeting and conversations with the various departments of the Roman Curia (the administrative offices of the Holy See)
How do the bishops prepare?
Each Bishop prepares a report about his diocese covering the past five years. The report may contain a variety of aspects of diocesan life and forms the basis of his meetings with the Holy Father and others.
Is the meeting with the Holy Father a private meeting?
Although behind closed doors, the meeting is not private in the sense that a bishop will represent the whole diocese. As Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth points out in a letter prior to travelling to Rome:
"This is not a private visit but an occasion which links me – and the whole diocese – with the person of the Holy Father and with the universal Church."
Pope Benedict confirms Apostolic Visit to Great Britain
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about his forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain in his address to the Bishops of England and Wales on the occasion of their ad Limina visit to Rome. This General Audience took place on the morning of Monday 1 February 2010.
"Even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales. I am thinking for example of the enthusiasm generated by the visit of the relics of St Thérèse, the interest aroused by the prospect of Cardinal Newman’s beatification and the eagerness of young people to take part in pilgrimages and World Youth Days.
On the occasion of my forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain, I shall be able to witness that faith for myself and as Successor of Peter, to strengthen and confirm it.
During the months of preparation that lie ahead, be sure to encourage the Catholics of England and Wales in their devotion and assure them that the Pope constantly remembers them in his prayers and holds them in his heart."
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
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Pope Benedict XVI's address to the Bishops of England and Wales (pdf)
Bishops support Pope's call for Church's "reasoned voice to be heard"
2 February 2010
The President and Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales have defended the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI after recent comments on UK equalities legislation.
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Conference, speaking to the Radio 4 Today Programme said:
"Some of the effects of legislation would seem to be unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities... [The Holy Father] wants his reasoned voice, formed by the treasures of Christian heritage - which is deeply embedded in our culture, to be heard."
Meanwhile, Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff, Vice-President of the Bishops' Conference, added his support during a Press Conference in Rome:
“The Church of course upholds absolutely the equal dignity of every person, irrespective of their faith, age and ability. But I think there is a misunderstanding, because sometimes in government legislation equality seems to be that we are all absolutely equal, which we are not. We are equal in dignity, beyond that each one of us is unique.”
More information and links
The Bishops of England and Wales are in Rome for their ad Limina visit (24 January - 4 February 2010). Click here for more.
Audio segment (Archbishop Nichols)
iPlayer link
(expires: 9 Feb 2010)
Archbishop Nichols' address to the Holy Father
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, gave this address to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, during the ad Limina.
"Holy Father, we wish to express our joy at the prospect of your visit to our countries. We are grateful to Her Majesty the Queen, and to her Government, for the invitation extended to you and for the manner in which preparations are being undertaken. The entire Catholic community looks forward to this much hoped-for visit and the encouragement you will give not only to us but to all our fellow citizens. There are, of course, great challenges facing the Catholic community in our land, as we strive to be faithful to the Lord in both word and deed. But there is also an openness to the things of faith, not least in a time of uncertainty and anxiety about many aspects of our society. We are confident that your presence and teaching, with its consistent and reasoned appeal to all people, will be warmly received, as will you be personally. The Beatification of the Venerable John Henry Newman, who spoke so eloquently to our English tradition and culture, is, we trust, the eagerly anticipated climax of your proposed visit."
+Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
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Archbishop Vincent Nichols' address to Pope Benedict XVI (pdf)
Mass at the Venerable English College
1 February 2010
The Bishops of England and Wales celebrated Mass at the Venerable English College in Rome. Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool gave the homily:
"To every priest; and everyone open to formation for ordination, the martyrs’ picture insists: priest and victim. I am grateful that in my own years of formation priest and victim were spoken in one breath. It is a cause of great harm that the word victim tended to disappear, especially in debates about who may be called to ordination: words such as right, power, set apart, do not sit easily with the Lamb of God slain; the fulfilment, the accomplishment of Isaiah’s suffering servant songs (Jn 1.29-34; Rev 5.6)."
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Homily: Mt Rev Patrick Kelly at the Venerable English College (pdf)
Bishop John Arnold on the Ad Limina
Bishop John Arnold is an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster
"Every five years or so, all the bishops of England and Wales travel together to Rome for their 'ad Limina' visit. All bishops around the world are required to do this. Our ad Limina began in the final days of January. It’s my first, and there is plenty to do to fill the ten days of the visit. We present detailed reports about our dioceses and Catholic life, describing parish life, schools and ministries, and all the diverse activities and priorities. We record the changes and developments in recent years and reflect on our plans and vision for the future. The bishops are invited to visit the various Congregations in Rome, each of them dealing with different aspects of faith in Church and Society.
"One aspect of the visit is of particular importance. Our travels to Rome, our discussions and our audience with the Holy Father are a very clear reminder and expression of our place in the global Church. All that we try to achieve in our Dioceses here in England and Wales, and all that each individual contributes, is all part of a much greater Church, each part of which is celebrating successes and facing challenges in their own particular ways. 'Just as a human body is made of many parts', St Paul tells us, 'all those parts, though many, make up one body. So it is with Christ'. It is important to reflect on our connection, in Faith, with every part of our world particularly in these days when we speak in global terms about such things as climate change, resources, migration and human rights. Distance no longer infers isolation. We have co-responsibility for our world and for each other."