By Jennifer D. Jordan
Providence Journal
April 21, 2008
http://www.projo.com/news/content/catholics_react_04-21-08_259RHER_v37.3661639.html
PROVIDENCE — As a faithful Roman Catholic, Julia Freia closely followed the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States over the past week, particularly his statements about the need to protect society's most vulnerable, among them poor immigrants who may or may not be here legally.
"As an immigrant myself, I feel we actually help this country. Most of us are here to work very hard and provide for our families," Freia, 65, said in Spanish after the 9:30 morning Mass at St. Michael Church in South Providence. "Really, that is the history of this country."
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| Julia Freia, a parishioner at St. Michael Church in Providence, talks about the popes visit to the United States. Photo by Gretchen Ertl |
For many at St. Michael's, a diverse parish that has served generations of immigrant families since 1859 and conducts Masses in English, Spanish, Hmong, Haitian Creole and Swahili, the pope's visit has provided a much-needed shot in the arm to Catholics searching for a greater sense of purpose and unity during troubled times. After a Mass yesterday that featured a children's choir and a sign-language interpreter for the deaf, about 250 parishioners — a mix of doctors, laborers, lawyers and families from across the state — mingled in the church hall, sipping coffee and catching up with one another.
A few church goers admitted they hadn't really noticed the papal tour. But several others said they paid close attention to the pope's various speeches in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
The pope's willingness to address the priest sex-abuse scandal as well as his call to promote peace around the world and protect the poor showed a more caring, approachable side, said Joan Kline, of Coventry.
"He was so humble and I think it was wonderful that he met with some of the abuse victims," said Kline, who has come to Sunday Mass at St. Michael for 25 years. "I changed my mind about him. I thought he was more of a person who followed the letter of the law, but he was warm."
Pope Benedict's five-day visit included meetings with President Bush and sexual-abuse victims, a youth rally and prayers at the former site of the World Trade Center towers. He also addressed the United Nations and met with religious leaders from other faiths, including Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. The third pope to ever visit the United States, Benedict was scheduled to depart New York for Rome at 8 last night.
"He has seemed accessible to a lot of different groups," said Lisa Carter, of Cranston, who held her daughter Gianna, 1, in her arms. "I was glad he finally addressed the sex abuse and that he went to ground zero."
The Rev. Raymond Malm, pastor of St. Michael Church for 25 years, welcomed the pope's comments on the need to help the poor and disenfranchised.
"I'm very pleased with his message on social justice and peace," Father Malm said, "because those are a huge part of our ministry here. Given some of the things that are going on in government today, both federally and locally, we need to challenge the fact that the poorest of our community — the most vulnerable — are being targeted."
An estimated 64 million Roman Catholics live in the United States, 18 million of whom are Hispanic, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Father Malm called "a disgrace" Governor Carcieri's recent appeal for police departments and employers to report illegal immigrants, most of whom come from Central and South America. Instead, he urged heeding the pope's call to protect the dignity of human life.
"Many people do not see this issue as part of the right to life; they think that is just about abortion. But everyone has the right to education, to food, to health care, to live their life in peace," the priest said. "And the pope is a champion of that. It's so easy to push into a corner that faceless group by calling them illegal aliens or undocumented workers. But the mission of the church is to care for all people, no matter who they are or what they have done. No one can be left out. If we do, then we are not being faithful."
Gary Monti, of Lincoln, said he was inspired by the pope's willingness to discuss painful issues and by his call for a stronger, more unified church community.
"I was very impressed by not only his straightforwardness in addressing some troubles in the Church, but also his call to action to come together as a spiritual community," Monti said. "He was able to reach out to people and use common language to relate to people."
Ana Barros, of Providence, who attended Mass at St. Michael with her 10-year-old daughter, Joselyn Bonilla, offered more measured praise of the new pontiff.
While she appreciated his expression of shame and apology over the priest sex-abuse scandal, "it should have been done a long time ago," Barros said.
She also recalled the popularity of Benedict's charismatic predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who died three years ago. "You know, he is trying to follow in some big footsteps," she said. "Once people get more used to him, I think they'll like him even more."
Contact: jjordan@projo.com
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