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Bishop Chedid visits with Pope John Paul, II
by: Bishop John G. Chedid
Bishop John Chedid (right) greets the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II,
by kissing his hand as a sign of love and respect. The Bishop was with the Pope in Rome
recently for his ad limina visit to report on his administration of the Eparchy.

It is surely good to be a member of God's household in this holy time. In another day it was said that "All roads lead to Rome." This is more so in our day, for Rome provides a recurring center of gravity for a world that has otherwise lost its meaning and direction. These thoughts surfaced in my mind after my recent ad limina to the Holy City.

As you know, the duty that summoned me to Rome is the canonical obligation imposed on every bishop who serves a diocese. Every five years, he goes to Rome to render an account of his administration. This is done in a systematic fashion. This year is the turn for the bishops of the United States, region after region.

Limina is a Latin word. It comes from the Latin Limen, meaning "threshold," limina is its plural. The threshold referred to is the tomb of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul.

The overseeing of the Catholic Church throughout the world is delegated by the Holy Father to certain offices than are designated as the Roman Curia. The Curia includes, for example, the Secretariat of State, plus other Congregations:

  • The Congregation for the Oriental Churches,
  • The Propagation of the Faith,
  • The Bishops,
  • The Doctrine of the Faith, etc.
  • For we of the Eastern Churches, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches deals with all issues concerning Eastern Catholics throughout the world.
The crown of all of the visits is certainly the audience with the Holy Father; a half hour of time is allotted to this person-to-person meeting. The one who occupies that high office has an awesome presence, and in fidelity to the mandate of the Lord, confirms his brethen in faith and love.

We discussed with the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, and with the Holy Father, several matters among which were the following pastoral and orgainization concerns:

  • The Pastoral and Administrative Orgainzation of the Eparchy
  • The Ministry of the Eparchial Bishop
  • The Liturgical and Sacramental Life
  • The Life and Ministry of the Clergy
  • Missionary Cooperation
  • Religious Education
  • The Laity
  • Ecumenism
  • Pastoral Care of the Family
  • Christian Charity and Human Development
  • Pastoral Care of Immigrants
  • The Financial status of the Eparchy, and an assessment and outlook for the future.
In general, the status of the report was very pleasing. The Congregations officials and the Holy Father were happy to see the zeal and devotion of our priests, their young age, and the non-defection of any priest in the Eparchy. They were also pleased that the Eparchy had some savings in the bank.

The Holy Father, in particular, asked me and insisted on the following:

"What is your relationship with the Patriarch in Lebanon?"
So much was he eager for the unity of the Maronite Church everywhere.


After the audience, he asked me if I had somebody with me, and I replied with great satisfaction that Monsignor Richard Saad of Birmingham, Alabama, and John Paul Kimes, also from Birmingham and a seminarian for the Eparchy studying in Rome, were with me. They were introduced to the Holy Father, kissed his hand and he gave to each one of us his Apostolic benediction, asking me to transmit this benediction to the clergy, religious and laity of the Eparchy, which I gladly do though this letter.

Monsignor Richard Saad, Pastor of St. Elias Parish in Birmingham, AL (left) was present with Bishop Chedid on his visit to the Holy Father. Also getting to meet the Holy Father was John Paul Kimes, one of our seminarians from Birmingham, who is studying in Rome.

After the visit, and before leaving the Vatican, I felt the pulsating presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, as one of awakening joy in the Church today.