Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 307

and needy, and in the energy that has gone into building the nationwide

network of Catholic parishes, hospitals, schools and universities. All of this

gives great cause for thanksgiving.

America is also a land of great faith. Your people are remarkable for their

religious fervor and they take pride in belonging to a worshipping commu-

nity. They have confidence in God, and they do not hesitate to bring moral

arguments rooted in biblical faith into their public discourse. Respect for

freedom of religion is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness - a

fact which has contributed to this country's attraction for generations of

immigrants, seeking a home where they can worship freely in accordance

with their beliefs.

In this connection, I happily acknowledge the presence among you of

Bishops from all the venerable Eastern Churches in communion with the

Successor of Peter, whom I greet with special joy. Dear Brothers, I ask

you to assure your communities of my deep affection and my continued

prayers, both for them and for the many brothers and sisters who remain

in their land of origin. Your presence here is a reminder of the courageous

witness to Christ of so many members of your communities, often amid

suffering, in their respective homelands. It is also a great enrichment of

the ecclesial life of America, giving vivid expression to the Church's cathol-

icity and the variety of her liturgical and spiritual traditions.

It is in this fertile soil, nourished from so many different sources, that all

of you, Brother Bishops, are called to sow the seeds of the Gospel today. This

leads me to ask how, in the twenty-first century, a bishop can best fulfill the

call to ''make all things new in Christ, our hope''? How can he lead his people

to ''an encounter with the living God'', the source of that life-transforming

hope of which the Gospel speaks? 3 Perhaps he needs to begin by clearing

away some of the barriers to such an encounter. While it is true that this

country is marked by a genuinely religious spirit, the subtle influence of

secularism can nevertheless color the way people allow their faith to influence

their behavior. Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and

then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures

contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or

exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary

3 Cf. Spe Salvi, 4.