• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, records his address Nov. 12, 2020, to be delivered to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' fall meeting Nov. 16, the first day of the two-day virtual meeting. Archbishop Pierre recorded the speech in the studio at the USCCB headquarters in Washington. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Bishops face the challenge of ‘healing the world,’ Archbishop Pierre says

November 16, 2020
By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Bishops Meeting - Fall 2020, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

WASHINGTON (CNS) — With the U.S. bishops conducting their annual fall general meeting virtually, the papal nuncio to the United States told them they must join in the “Challenge of Healing the World.”

“Here we are gathered, as brothers, but in a specific cultural and social context, which the Holy Father describes as a ‘closed world’ over which loom ‘dark clouds,’ which impede genuine fraternity,” said Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the nuncio, in a prerecorded address delivered Nov. 16 on the first day of the U.S. bishops’ annual fall general meeting, held online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“One of the largest clouds is the ‘throwaway culture,’ which leads to disregard for human life — in the forms of abortion and euthanasia, human trafficking and new forms of slavery — environmental abuse and progressive marginalization of groups,” Archbishop Pierre said.

“Another is the fragmentation and polarization of society, marked by vicious attacks and attempts to spread despair and discouragement to create a situation of permanent confrontation rather than healing,” he added.

A third such cloud, according to the archbishop, is “the rapid growth of secularization, in which people live as if God did not exist, creating a greater obstacle in transmitting the faith within the family and from one generation to the next and leaving deep wounds in the church and society.”

“Oh, and, I forgot,” Archbishop Pierre said — not really forgetting — “there is also a global pandemic.”

“Jesus is with us in the storm. He brings peace and calm, but having encountered Jesus, things cannot simply return to normal or the way they were,” he said. But “as church leaders, when things ‘return to normal,’ we cannot accept inequality as ‘normal.'”

Archbishop Pierre, who celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest and his 25th anniversary as a bishop this year, highlighted three insights from Pope Francis’ new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship” to guide the bishops in their approach.

The first insight was “a Samaritan church to heal the world.” The parable of the good Samaritan is ” is at the heart of ‘Fratelli Tutti,’ but it is also at the heart of the Gospel,” Archbishop Pierre said.

The church suffers from the same problems, the same maladies as the rest of society — polarization, secularization, indifference, worldliness and the like.

These problems not only affect us, but they divide us,” he said. “Our mission is to heal the world, and these documents are open to hope. I encourage you during your meeting to look at ways that you can feed your hope and that of your flock.”

He added, “In a world of suffering, we are called to become neighbors to others. As bishops, we have a special responsibility to lead by example, demonstrating what it means to be a neighbor.”

The second element was “strengthening social friendship: love as the measure of spiritual stature.”

Defining “social friendship” as ” a friendship that transcends borders,” Archbishop Pierre reminded the bishops, “The Lord Jesus calls us to go outside of ourselves just as the Samaritan did.”

“At the core of Christian faith, witnessed in the lives of many saints, including that of Mother Teresa, is our response of love toward the least of our brothers and sisters. This will be the criterion of judgment at the end of time,” he said.

The third rubric was “dialogue: proposing the truth in love.”

“When we speak of dialogue, what are we really talking about? It cannot be like those on the news who shout past each other, demonstrating that they are more interested in power and their own ideas than the common good,” said Archbishop Pierre, referencing a passage from “Fratelli Tutti.”

“Authentic dialogue allows the church to offer her contribution and to give living witness to Christ and the Gospel,” he said.

“We are journeying together through very difficult times, enduring the coronavirus and a contentious electoral campaign,” Archbishop Pierre said. “If we take a step back, we observe that society is in crisis. It is not merely that people are polarized or that the culture no longer supports the faith; there is a genuine crisis of authority.

“No one seems to be offering real values or solutions to bring about healing. These factors have created the crisis in both society and the church.”

He used Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, as an example to be followed.

“His authoritative witness shows forth the face of a Samaritan church, unwilling to pass by someone in need but willing to see where compassion is needed, and to act,” the archbishop said.

“There is a 5-year-old boy, who, through Father McGivney’s intercession, was cured of fetal hydrops, and who can now look forward in hope to the life that lies ahead,” Archbishop Pierre said. “May Blessed Michael McGivney intercede for you in offering to your flocks a witness to hope.”

More

Bishops add COVID-19, anti-racism elements to four-year strategic plan

Bishops encouraged to continue response to pandemic, racism, abuse

Archbishop Lori to lead USCCB pro-life committee, Wisconsin priest chosen to be next general secretary

USCCB president to bishops: Take Gospel to troubled people during pandemic

The fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In gathering for U.S. bishops like no other, annual meeting goes online

Copyright © 2020 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Mark Pattison

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue

  • Archbishop Lori and Supreme Knight Kelly meet with Pope Leo

  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

  • St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

  • St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Latest Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Latest World News |

French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause

Russia Ukraine Vatican peace

Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine

Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass

Planned Parenthood

Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops

school choice

ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause
  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors
  • Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass
  • Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops
  • ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do
  • Notre Dame prepares to reopen towers’ tour with return of famed statues of saints to rooftop
  • After 12 years, locals welcome pope back to his summer home
  • Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en