INSPIRED by the time and care Pope Benedict XVI extended to the Australian bishops in Rome for ad limina Apostolorum, Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane returned on October 25 and spoke with admiration for the universal shepherd of the Catholic Church.
“The Pope was terrific,” he said after the five-yearly visit.
“He called together groups of about seven bishops and spent about 25 minutes with us.
“He asked each of us what is happening in our diocese and was fascinated.”
Archbishop Bathersby said he “was fascinated” to share and learn within such a forum.
He spoke with high regard of happenings in Brisbane archdiocese.
“I talked to the Pope about how it’s enormously important to try and preach the Gospel to people, young and old – to try and help them understand who Jesus Christ is, what he’s done and of his vision,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
“I mentioned not only that I have gone out myself but I have gone out with other heads of Churches to talk about Jesus Christ in the Gospel.”
The Holy Father “listened carefully” and Archbishop Bathersby was affirmed by the fact he had remembered him.
“I knew the Pope when he was the cardinal in charge of the Doctrine of the Faith,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
“He has a great memory … (and) I am amazed at how much he is doing at the present time.”
Pope Benedict “said some marvellous things about the growth of the Church at the present time” in response to what was shared.
Archbishop Bathersby said another group of bishops gathered to discuss the removal from office of Toowoomba Bishop William Morris in May.
Congregation for Bishops prefect Cardinal Mark Ouellet and Congreg-ation for the Doctrine of the Faith prefect Cardinal William Levada led that forum.
“There was a real sense of remembering that Bishop Bill Morris is our brother and that we must help him in every way possible,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
It was the fifth time Archbishop Bathersby had journeyed to Rome for ad limina visits and, because of his impending retirement, his last.
He said he did not talk with Pope Benedict about his retirement as Archbishop of Brisbane.
Archbishop Bathersby did concede, however, he would likely be reading about, rather than attending, the ad limina visit in five years.
The archbishop tendered his resignation in July when he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for bishops.
Ad limina is designed to “celebrate and strengthen” bishops’ “communion with the universal Church and the Successor of Peter”.
On his way to Rome, Archbishop Bathersby attended an international gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF) in Manado, Indonesia, from October 4-7.
He said it was “a unique gathering bringing Church leaders together” and “was fascinated to go and participate”.
“There was a focus on the mission of Jesus Christ, on the working of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives and on sacred scripture,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
