Pope’s Words Brought Home

By HEATHER ZIEGLER
WHEELING — When Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the presidents of this country’s Catholic colleges and universities this week in Washington, D.C,. Wheeling Jesuit University President, the Rev. Julio Giulietti, S.J., said everyone paid attention.

It was at the Catholic University of America where the pope instructed the Catholic school presidents to “lead your students to commit their lives to the world.”

Giulietti said the pope brought a calm, but direct message to the education leaders.

“It was a very affirming conversation. He is an educator himself, having taught at the great universities in Germany so he knows the role of research, study and interaction with young people.

“His message was to celebrate our faith without imposing it on anyone. Celebrate it; talk about it; tell people about the Jesus of Nazareth. But he said don’t forget God’s world. He said we live in a very blessed country while most of God’s children are without basic needs.”

This was not the first time Giulietti has been in the presence of the Catholic Church leader. He said he met him once in Rome before the former cardinal was elected pope and again in Lima, Peru, during a meeting of the Peruvian bishops. Then again last year in Rome, Giulietti was among the audience of Jesuit educators who met with Benedict.

“He’s a very nice fellow. I was riveted by his eyes. He has such a thick German accent that I think he speaks with his eyes, too.”

While Giulietti had no direct contact with the pope in Washington, he noted that all the events were well orchestrated and felt very personal. The college president said the pope is taking a realistic and strong approach to the healing process regarding the sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church.

“The pope’s conversation with the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities was very peaceful, even joyful. There were some vocal and arch conservative groups that were sure Benedict would read the riot act to us. They were terribly disappointed,” Giulietti said.

“He has acknowledged the wounds that people have received and that for many of these individuals it will be with them all of their lives. He wants the church to do anything it can to heal those wounds and make sure that young children are never abused by anyone related to the church. He said there will never be another coverup and this is not the end of the healing process.”

Giulietti said the pope’s meeting with leaders of varying faiths while in the United States also shows his desire to reach out to “good people of other faiths.”

Giulietti said he was impressed with the amount of security surrounding the pope at all times.

“We had to submit our names, passports, all sorts of information to attend,” he noted.

The Jesuit presidents met for lunch at Union Station before the pope’s talk. The Rev. Charles Currie, S.J., former president of WJU and current president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities also attended the event.