Pope Benedict Xvi At Cua

The Tower Friday, April 18, 2008

Chase mcalpine / tower staff

Pope Benedict XVI thanked University students and faculty for their warm welcome yesterday.

Benedict Addresses Catholic Educators at CUA

Pope Offers Scholarly View on Academic Freedom, University Mission By Ben Newell and Ryan J. Reilly Tower Staff

Catholic teachings should shape all aspects of campus life, Pope Benedict XVI told Catholic educators gathered at the University yesterday. The former professor described the mission of Catholic educators in a nationally televised speech at the Pryzbyla Center. It was part of an overall message of hope and healing. Benedict toured Washington, D.C., celebrated Mass at Nationals Stadium, met with bishops from across the country at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and participated in a ceremony with President George W. Bush at the White House as part of a five day tour of the United States.

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Benedict said that appealing to the principle of academic freedom when taking positions against Catholic principles “would obstruct or even betray the university’s identity and mission.” His speech, which was attended by dozens of University students and administrators as well as leaders of Catholic universities from across the county, encouraged educators to allow church teachings to shape all aspects of campus life. Rev. David M. O‘Connell, president of the University, introduced the pope and said Catholic education stood against “moral relativism and unbridled individuality.“ Catholic educators across the nation tuned into Pope Benedict XVI‘s speech at University. The half-hour speech was his direct address to concerns within the

Catholic education community about straying from the faith. Rev. Brian Johnstone, a theology professor at the University disagreed, advocating a forum for viewpoints to be offered and defended. “I‘m in favor of different viewpoints coming here as long as they are prepared to defend their beliefs.“ “Academic freedom doesn‘t mean going around doing whatever the heck you want. It‘s a freedom to pursue greater truth,” said Joe Sheehan, a junior politics major. Sheehan said initially that he was “not excited by this pope, but I am constantly disarmed by his humility and intelligence.“ Doctoral student Jeff Peters was glad to hear strong recommendations from the pontiff. “Some professors would rather appeal to the masses than tell people that

what they‘re doing is wrong. Freedom means the ability to do the right thing.“ The pontiff thanked the University’s students for their warm welcome. He entered the Pryzbyla Center on the east side, in view of more than a thousand students and posed for pictures with his arms outstretched. “When I saw all those people on the lawn, I was crying like a baby, because we helped bring them the Holy Father,” said Frank Persico, vice president for University Relations. He said that this was more special than the 1979 visit of Pope John Paul II because he was much more involved in the process this time around. Persico said the best part of the visit was the positive impression that those who visited the University left with. “We’re not a best kept secret anymore,” said Persico.

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The pope briefly described some forms of sexual education as “simple risk management… bereft of the beauty of true conjugal love.“ Rev. Kevin Wildes, president of Loyola University in New Orleans, described Benedict as a very nuanced theologian. “He recognized Catholic educators do more than risk management, we teach morality…that is our mission,” said. Wildes was one of 400 university presidents and diocesan education representatives in attendance for the speech. Benedict departed the University at about 6 p.m. He is headed to New York City to address the United Nations later today and hold a mass at St. Patrick‘s Cathedral in midtown Manhattan, as well as offer a prayer for the victims of Sept. 11 at the reflecting pool at Ground Zero.

Volume LXXXV, Issue 22 Copyright © 2008. Published in Washington, D.C.