Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton's Blog

December 8, 2019

Following my privelege to to install our men in the diocesan permanent diaconate program in the Ministry of Lector, I was "wheel's up" from the Pittsburgh airport en route to the Ohio/Michigan region's Ad Limina Apostolorum meetings with the offices of the Holy See.  This Tuesday we of Region VI will be honored with a 2 1/2 hour audience with our Holy Father, Pope Francis himself.  If the Tuesday itinerary goes as planned, I will interview with EWTN here in Rome following the Papal visit.

In the past, Catholic bishops throughout the world were expected to visit the Holy Father and the Vatican offices every 5 years.  Due to the vast number of bishops in the world, it is no longer possible to honor a 5-year cycle, therefore we now are at a 7-year one.  The last one for the Diocese of Steubenville was 2012, before I even was a bishop, so this is my first.

In this obligatory visit we will visit the Roman Curia (various congregations, dicateries, councils, and institutes) providing current events in ourespective dioceses and dialogue on how the Vatican offices can be of further assistance in the pastoral work of each diocese.  Furthermore, per the visit's title, Ad Limina Apostolorum (To the Threshold of the Apostles), in addition to our meeting with Pope Francis, we will visit the Major Basilicas of St. Peter's, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major.  I am grateful to be the homilist for the Mass at St. John Lateran.

The ad limina visit is both a spritually and materially visible sign of eccesial unity between the See of Peter and the local churches.  As in the earliest days of the Church, unity among the Apostles and disciples articulated the unity within the Body of Christ.  Nearly 2 millenia later we continue to promote that sacred unity.  The following picture was not taken from my room's window, but close.  Try waking up to that view each morning!

 

December 9, 2019

Today we embarked into the ad limina week, fittingly beginning with morning Mass at the Basilica of St. Peter, at the altar near St. Peter’s tomb.  We Latin Rite bishops trace our episcopal genealogy back to the Apostles Peter or James.  What maintains the truth of the faith and the reality of the Eucharist being the true Body and Blood of Christ is the unbroken line between the Apostles (first bishops) and us bishops of 2019.
Following Mass, we were able to locate a coffee bar that could accommodate 16 bishops for coffee and pastries.  Yes, dietary restrictions were going to be compromised this week, but, then, when in Rome …

We began our series of meetings at the Congregation of Bishops with Cardinal Ouellet and his staff.  Much was discussed, from the episcopacy in the United States to how the congregation may be of assistance to us as an episcopal conference.  We traveled across the piazza (square) near St. Peter’s to our next meeting with the Cardinal Ladaria and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  Cardinal Ladaria was a professor of mine back when I was in seminary.  He was Fr. Ladaria back then and a terrific professor.

Since all bishops are entrusted with the Deposit (Treasury) of the Faith, our competency in both faith and morals is in constant need of current societal-inclinations updates.  Navigating the constantly changing and sometimes turbulent waters of the present time is not always a “It’s a Small World” boat ride.  Sometimes it’s more like a level-6 white water rapids excursion.

December 10, 2019

The Basilica of St. Peter, as rich as it is in tradition, is not the Cathedral of Rome.  The Basilica of St. John Lateran is.  This morning I had the honor to deliver the homily at the cathedral of the Holy Father.  The Gospel passage of the shepherd searching out the lost sheep providentially was the Gospel of the day, for were to soon visit the successor of St. Peter, one who constantly encourages us to go out to the peripheries at the cost of leaving behind the familiar (the other 99).

At 10:30am we bishops began the highlight of our ad limina pilgrimage: a personal audience with our Holy Father Pope Francis.  While the Pope greeting us individually at the entrance of the audience room was extremely impressive, we eventually settled into a semi-formal fraternal gathering for the next 2 hours.  One can imagine a range of topics were discussed, from the world stage, to the national, to the local.  And, yes, nothing was “off limits.”

I was very encouraged by Pope Francis’ direction to us, his fraternal encouragement, as well as both his seriousness and his sense of humor.  Each one of us had opportunity to ask questions or provide insights.  For my part, I made one request and asked two questions.  The Holy Father twice laughed at my comments (yes, it was my intent) as well at others’ remarks.  Still, this was a fraternal meeting replete with very serious discussion with the utmost sincerity.  How could it not be when we are entrusted with declaring the Kingdom of God is at hand?

In the afternoon, I had the privilege to interview with Mr. Alan Holdren at the EWTN Rome Bureau office.  He gave me the opportunity to share and reflect on both my visit with Pope Francis and the ad limina experiences thus far.  Later in the afternoon, we bishops visited with Cardinal Stella and the Congregation for Clergy.  Right away we knew we were in for a pleasant experience, for the cardinal greeted us immediately at the entrance of the offices.  This was further reinforced when coffee, water, and pastries greeted us at the doorway to the conference room.  In the evening, I had the happy opportunity to take our two Steubenville priests in Rome, Frs. Maxfield and Ginnetti, out for dinner in the city.