‘Bring my blessing to the people of San Antonio,’ says Pope Benedict XVI to Archbishop Gomez in Rome

By Deacon Gonzalo Meza
For Today’s Catholic

ROME • Archbishop José H. Gomez participated in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (CLA), gathered in Rome from Feb. 17 to 20. It was presided over by its president, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Cardinals and bishops, members of the commission, reflected on “the current situation of priestly formation in seminaries” in that region. During his trip to Rome, Archbishop Gomez was accompanied by Father Lawrence Christian, rector of Assumption Seminary.

Addressing members and counselors on the guidelines for the vocation selection, Archbishop Gomez talked about some aspects of the formation in the seminary of the archdiocese. The participants were very interested to learn that Assumption Seminary is the only one throughout the United States that offers a solid bilingual and bicultural formation to the candidates preparing for priesthood. Members of the commission also discussed the “Aparecida” document and the interactions among seminaries in Latin America and the United States.

On Feb. 18, Archbishop Gomez took part in the Wednesday general audience of Pope Benedict XVI. At the end of it, the archbishop met briefly with the pontiff and told him that the people of San Antonio loved him and were praying for him. The pontiff immediately responded: “Please bring my blessing to the people of San Antonio.”

At the end of the plenary on Feb. 20, some delegates were received in audience by the pope in the Consistory Hall in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. During his message, Pope Benedict XVI remembered Bishop Cipriano Calderón Polo, vice-president of CLA, who died recently. (He had visited the Archdiocese of San Antonio years ago, and spoke highly of it.) The pope referred to the seminary as a decisive time of discernment and preparation, where, in profound dialogue with Christ, the desire to become rooted in him is reinforced. Referring to the candidates to the priesthood, Pope Benedict XVI said that “it is of paramount importance that care and attention be paid to their human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation.” (Benedict XVI, address to participants in the Plenary Assembly of CLA, Feb. 20)

On July 25, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop José H. Gomez as a consultant of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, an institution whose purpose is to assist the human and spiritual needs of the church in Latin America.