Even though it will be the second
pallium Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles receives from Pope
Benedict XVI, the highest-ranking Hispanic bishop in the United States
said he was very excited to receive the woolen band.
"It's a beautiful moment when you see the unity of the universal church
and it's also a moment of responsibility and commitment for me," he said.
He said he was excited about the pallium ceremony in St.
Peter's Basilica June 29 "because I've seen the importance of our
communion with the Holy Father, and it also shows the concern of the
Holy Father for the people in the United States and the people of the
Archdiocese of Los Angeles."
Forty-five archbishops from around the world, including five from North
America, were to receive a pallium -- a circular band of white wool
marked with six black crosses -- on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
All archbishops named within the past year may receive the pallium from
the pope in June as a symbol of the archbishop's authority as pastors
and unity with the pope.
Archbishop Gomez, 59, received his first pallium in 2005 after he was
named archbishop of San Antonio. He was installed in March as Los
Angeles' fifth archbishop.
Archbishop Gomez led about 300 people on a Rome pilgrimage, which
included attending the pallium ceremony at St. Peter's, special Masses
celebrated by the archbishop and visits to Rome's other basilicas and
sacred places.
Richard Pardi of Woodland Hills, Calif., was part of the
archdiocese-sponsored pilgrimage. He told CNS that the pallium ceremony
reflects the importance of ritual in the Catholic faith.
"These rituals go back hundreds and hundreds of years. And that gives
substance to our belief, that it's not just us, it was our fathers, our
grandfathers and our whole history of our family that goes back to the
beginning of Jesus' crucifixion," Pardi said.
Those who couldn't make the trip could still feel part of the events by
following the updates on the archbishop's official Facebook page, which
featured status updates as well as photos from the pilgrimage.
"Dear Fellow Pilgrims: Wherever you are this week, remember that each
one of you is a cherished member of the Body of Christ. Each of us is on
a spiritual journey to Christ, Our Lord," the archbishop posted on his
wall when he arrived in Rome June 24.
"I carry your intentions with me as we will visit and pray at the ancient holy sites of our Catholic faith," he added.
A YouTube video of the archbishop delivering his homily on a very hot
Sunday in Rome showed pilgrims laughing when he said his remarks would
be very brief because in the front of the church near the lectern was "a
little warm -- I don't know about that side" back by the pews.
The first Hispanic to serve as archbishop of Los Angeles, Archbishop
Gomez leads the nation's most populous archdiocese, now numbering nearly
5 million Catholics who come from myriad cultures and traditions.
The archdiocese offers Mass in 42 languages, but the ethnically diverse
parishioners come together for an annual Mass for cultures at the city
cathedral, he said.
"When I celebrated that Mass, that's when I really realized this is not
San Antonio anymore," he laughed, as he recalled the presence of so many
people from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The diversity of Catholic traditions and cultures in Los Angeles is in a
way a microcosm of the diversity and unity of the universal church.
"We are together in the same faith," he said, where no matter what
language or popular devotions the different parishioners use, they all
show "the same love for the Eucharist, for the pope" and God.
When people think of Los Angeles, most people think of Hollywood and
movie stars, he said, yet what he has found most striking "is the faith
of the people."
"The churches are packed every Sunday, which is beautiful," he said.
He said he sees his first duty as an archbishop is to take care of his
priests, both in their formation and in promoting vocations to religious
and consecrated life, although he also remains committed to the lay
faithful.
The archbishop, who was ordained a priest of the Opus Dei prelature,
said, "It's important we respond to our Christian vocation where we are
whether we are priests or deacons or religious or lay faithful."
"We have to be generous and joyful in living our vocation," which is to live holy lives, he said.
"I think my role as an archbishop is to help everybody be together, to
be inspired, excited about the Christian faith and especially to give
them hope because life is not easy."
By presenting the hope of the Gospel and reminding people of God's love
for everyone, people will be able to find the strength and joy to face
today's challenges, he said.