Cardinal Pell’s Pentecost Pastoral Letter 2006 “What is Power?”

By Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney

2/6/2006

Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, has issued his annual Pentecost Pastoral Letter to the young people of Sydney, this year entitled “What is Power?”

Each year on Pentecost Sunday the Cardinal writes to the young people of his Archdiocese.  As is the usual practice, student leaders from the Catholic secondary schools and youth leaders from the parishes gathered to discuss the topic and listen to an introductory address.

The theme of Power comes from the Scriptural theme for WYD 2008: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8); making the Pentecost Letter a key part of the WYD preparation programme.

This year’s introductory address was given by a retired Supreme Court Judge.  Cardinal Pell in his Letter explains that the judge’s words “were deeply appreciated” because they were “wise and humane, the fruit of wide experience in public life and the courts, spoken by a man who knows, loves and practices his Catholic faith”.

“The judge explained that all power comes from outside the agent (and ultimately from God) and is to be used after due reflection for a good purpose and not just for self service.  There is always a need for responsibility, for a due sense of proportion (not making a mountain out of a mole hill), for sensitivity but not sentimentality.”

Cardinal Pell writes that “External power was defined as the capacity to direct others and direct the course of events and was distinguished from internal power, the power each individual has to choose, decide and act.”

To illustrate the point the Cardinal presented the well known story of a powerless young man vs a powerful governor. “We all recognize the story of Jesus before Pilate (John 19: 8-11) and proudly acknowledge that we are followers of that powerless young prophet from Galilee, not followers of the governor, representative of the mighty Roman Empire, whose power then rivalled the super-power status of the United States of America today.”

The Cardinal finished by encouraged the young people of Sydney:” We can break the cycle of weakness and secularism which regularly presses upon us.  Our Christian faith is energizing and empowering.  Together we can do so much more.  We should begin now and preparations for the 2008 Sydney World Youth Day provide such an opportunity.  I invite all young people to visit the website www.wyd2008.org and join the Pilgrimage today.”

Click here to see the full text of Pentecost Pastoral Letter 2006 “What is Power?”  (PDF)