SALT LAKE CITY — The Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, was in Washington for the first days of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States. Bishop Wester was in the pope’s presence when he met well-wishers on the West Lawn of the White House April 16, then later that evening when the pope met with bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The next day, Bishop Wester attended the Mass at Nationals Park. "This has been a very good visit," Bishop Wester said in an interview with the Intermountain Catholic April 18. He said he found the welcome by some 900 people on the West Lawn of the White House to be "very touching." "It was very interesting that at the White House, President Bush spoke about religion, and the pope spoke about democracy. They were two world leaders complementing each other. The pope spoke of what religion can bring to democracy." From the issue of the clergy sex abuse scandal to challenges posed by an increasingly secular society, bishops contacted by Catholic News Service said the pope’s message of hope grounded in deeper prayer, renewal, and strong leadership is one which they can take back to their home dioceses. The theme of hope has been a hallmark of Pope Benedict’s papacy almost since the day of his election three years ago. Bishops hearing his address at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington said they felt encouraged by the pope’s support for their work despite the many challenges stemming from the abuse scandal. Bishop Wester, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on immigration and refugees was one of those bishops feeling hopeful and encouraged when the pope’s comments turned to immigration. "Pope Benedict gave us a context in which to discuss immigration" Bishop Wester said. "That is that all people are created in God’s image and deserve to be treated with dignity. (People who are undocumented) are not to be looked at as illegals." The pope’s comments about immigration were turned into an April 20 front-page story by the New York Times, a story for which Bishop Wester was called upon for comments. "Pope Benedict commented on immigration specifically in two ways," Bishop Wester said. "Keeping families together and human trafficking, to which immigrants are susceptible. "He also spoke of the rich legacy of immigrants in this country," he said. The pope also used the meeting with bishops to bring up again the subject of the clergy sex abuse scandal and the importance of creating safe environments for children and young people, the bishop said. Pope Benedict met with five victims of the sex abuse scandal during his visit to the U.S. Bishop Wester said that meeting was important and he was glad to see it occur. One of the most touching, human moments of the early days of the visit occurred during the Mass at Nationals Park, Bishop Wester said. "Placido Domingo had just sung ‘Panis Angelicus,’ and it was obvious that it was more than a performance, it was a prayer. Pope Benedict stood up and walked to Domingo, who met him, genuflected, and kissed his ring. Domingo was very moved." Catholic News Service contributed to this story.
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