Vatican City, Apr 19, 2012 / 09:17 am
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles says the forthcoming Year of Faith is the best present Pope Benedict could give the Church as he marks his seventh anniversary as pontiff.
“Today we give thanks to God for the election of the Holy Father and are praying for him as we the bright future of his pontificate, especially the Year of Faith which he has called for starting this October,”Archbishop Gomez told CNA April 19.
“It will be a great opportunity for us Catholics to reflect upon our faith, to try to understand better our faith, because in the end the most important issue we have in our times in the Church is education in the faith.”
The Los Angeles archbishop is in Rome this week on his “ad limina” visit along with his fellow Californian bishops and the hierarchies of Hawaii, Utah and Nevada. Archbishop Gomez said it a “great blessing to physically participate in the celebrations this week” beginning with the Pope’s 85th birthday on Monday.