Homily for Evening Prayer and Mass of Reception

St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

By + Cardinal Edward Cassidy

11 November 2003

1. This evening we bring to a conclusion, as it were, here in Sydney a wonderful period of celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the election of John Paul II as Bishop' of Rome and Successor to the Apostle Peter. The events of that week in Rome, from the Mass in St Peter's Square on the evening of October 16th, the actual date of the election, to the Consistory on October 21st, were followed by people all over the world, and it is good for us to reflect on them as we receive back home at this liturgical celebration our Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, His Eminence George Pell, who received the red biretta during those days.

2. The presence in Rome on that occasion of Cardinals, Bishops and Clergy, together with pilgrims from so many nations, emphasized for all of us there present the special place that the Bishop of Rome has in our world-wide family of the Catholic Church. John Paul II, in the past 25 years, has done so much during his 102 visits to the Church outside of Italy to make visible the role of the Papacy. Moreover, the leadership, solid teaching and moral guidance that His Holiness has offered to the Church and the world in these years has been truly extraordinary. Yet, the primacy of Peter is invaluable for the Catholic Church, irrespective of the person who is called to that sublime office.

3. For us, the Successor of Peter has the task of confirming his brethren in their faith, and of being both a sign and a source of unity in the Church. As one looked around the Cardinals gathered in St. Peter's Square during the ceremonies mentioned - those being newly admitted to the College of Cardinals and those from previous Consistories - this unity around the Pope was strikingly evident. They were there from every Continent, from countries of old Christian tradition to very recently evangelised peoples, such as the Adivasis of Northern India, represented by the Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Toppo. The thirty new Cardinals came from 22 countries and covered all five Continents. So-many diverse cultures were represented, yet all were truly one in faith, with one Lord, one baptism, one Eucharist, one understanding of the moral values that enhance and not destroy life. The new Cardinals were there representing local Churches, yet they and all of us there present were members of the one Church of Christ. The local Churches are not in any way branch offices of the Church of Rome, nor their bishops mere delegates of the Roman Pontiff. Each local Church has a dignity and a life of its own - but that precious communion with the Successor of Peter, and consequently with the other local Churches throughout the world, makes present in the local Church the universal Church founded by Jesus Christ. It is this heritage that we express when we speak of the Catholic Church in Australia, and riot the Australian Catholic Church. His Holiness was able to state: "Enriched by its new members, the College of Cardinals reflects the diversity of races and cultures that characterizes the Christian people, and highlights once again the unity of every part of the flock of Christ with the See of the Bishop of Rome".

4. Authority is not something our world holds in great respect today, whether that authority is exercised in the home, in society or in the Church. In the past, the authority of the Successor of Peter has been seen often as an obstacle to unity among Christians. At times, voices are raised even in our Church against the exercise of the primacy. Yet, more and more, also among other Christian Communities, the value of such authority is being appreciated as a source of unity and sound teaching in a diverse, secularised and often divided world. During those days in Rome, I - and I am sure many, many others - gave thanks to God not only for Pope John Paul II, but for the Papacy, a true gift that Our Lord Jesus Christ has left to his Church.

5. At times, reports portray the Papal authority as being exercised in a personal way, without consultation - almost as if the Holy Father woke up each morning and decided whom he would appoint to some diocese or office that day! Almost 50 years spent in the service of the Holy See allows me to affirm before you this evening that during those years, and particularly during the present Pontificate, there has been a constant increase in consultation between the Holy See and the Particular Churches, thanks also to the possibility that modern means of communication offer to those involved in decision making. At the same time, the Church is not a democracy, but a hierarchical body as established by Christ himself It is his Church, and the task of those with authority is to carry his mission to the people of their time, to teach his word, to administer his sacraments, to bring his love to the people entrusted to their care. Those who wish to know with certainty what they must believe and what they must do in order to have life and have it abundantly, surely have a right to hear that word from the shepherds called to take care of the Church of Christ. And, surely, above all other Pastors, they have a right to hear this saving word from the Successor of Peter, who has the Christ-given duty of confirming the faith of his brethren.

6. In this great task, the primary role is given to the Successor of Peter and to the college of Bishops. Within that body, there is a special place for the College of Cardinals, chosen by the Pope as his close advisors. The office of Cardinal has its origin in the early centuries of the Roman Church, when it was given to certain pastors of the Roman churches who acted as special counsellors and co-workers of the Bishop of Rome. The College in its present form traces its origin to 1150, when the position of Dean was given to the Bishop of Ostia. Since 1050 the Cardinals have been the exclusive electors of the Roman Pontiff Today, the College represents in its members the Particular Churches from all over the world, and it continues those traditional roles of being a special consultative body working closely with the Pope, and when a vacancy occurs in the Roman See, forming the electoral college for the choice of a new Pope. Addressing the Cardinals at the close of the meeting held in Rome during the recent celebrations, the Pope thanked the Cardinals for the advice they had given to him over the years in order to help him "understand better the important questions regarding the Church and humanity".

7. During those days in Rome, there was one other event that brought great joy to many people throughout the world, not only Catholics but also numerous non-Catholics, including some of the poorest of the poor. On the Sunday, October 19th, a small religious sister from Calcutta was declared by Pope John Paul II to be blessed. More than 300,000 pilgrims were present and once again God's amazing grace was evident in the life of this daughter of the Church. It is only 53 years since Mother Theresa received permission to leave her post as Headmistress of Loreto School for Girls in Calcutta to go out and bring the love of Jesus Christ to the most abandoned of God's creatures on the streets off the huge city of Calcutta. At the ceremony of her beatification, Pope John Paul praised Mother Theresa, saying: "I am personally grateful to this courageous woman, whom I always felt alongside me. An icon of the Good Samaritan, she went everywhere to serve Christ in the poorest of the poor. Not even conflicts and wars held her back"; and he described her as a "small woman in love with God, humble messenger of the Gospel and tireless benefactor of humanity". Today the Sisters of the Congregation she founded are carrying out the same apostolate among the poorest of the poor in countries throughout the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ assured us that only a good tree can produce good fruit. As Catholics, we have the privilege of belonging to that Church, the tree of which the work of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta is very good fruit indeed.

8. If I have shared these reflections with you this evening, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is so that, together, we may give thanks to God for these special gifts that he has bestowed on he Church, We can be proud of Our Holy Father, of our Cardinal, and of our saints. Proud, yes, but not arrogant, as if we might be superior to others. All this is God's work. Moreover, we are deeply conscious of the problems we face in our Church today, and of the responsibility that is ours. Our Lord has shown us the path of true humility, for while he never denied his divinity - rather he died because he claimed to be the Son of God - he nevertheless humbled himself, taking the form of a servant and giving his life for the salvation of the world. This is our example: rejoicing in the gift of faith, we are called to bring the knowledge and love of Christ our Lord to others. As we have been asked to do by the Synod of Bishops for Oceania, to follow his way, to proclaim his truth, to live his life. The readings for the Mass this evening remind us of the commandment to love one another as Jesus had loved us, to bring the good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to take care of those in need. Our Lord has assured us that "as often as you do this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me".

9. Let us then join together in giving thanks to God in this Eucharist, for our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, for the new Cardinals and particularly for the new Australian Cardinal, His Eminence George Pell, for Blessed Mother Theresa and all those in our Church who by their lives and service, bring the love of Christ to those most in need off that love. In his homily on October 16th, Pope John Paul Il acknowledged with, deep gratitude the sacrifices, prayers and sufferings that have been offered over the past 25 years "to sustain him in his service to the Church". Let us continue to offer that help and above all let us be inspired in our own lives by the testimony given by Pope John Paul II on that same occasion in these words:

I renew, through the hands of Mary, Beloved Mother, the gift of myself, of the present and of the future: may everything be done according to Your will. Supreme Pastor, stay with us, so that we may proceed safely with you to the house of the Father.