Cardinal Egan says he looks forward to pope developing theme of hope

Published: 2008-03-17

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI will emphasize the theme of hope -- and what that means to Catholics -- on his upcoming visit to New York and Washington, said Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York. "It's going to be interesting to see how he develops it," the cardinal told Catholic New York, the archdiocesan newspaper, during an hourlong interview at his residence. Noting that Pope Benedict addressed that topic in his most recent encyclical, "Spe Salvi" (on Christian hope), the cardinal said he expects that on the U.S. trip the pope will continue to emphasize "that about which we're hopeful" and the role of hope in "strengthening our moral and spiritual life." Pope Benedict's trip, the theme of which is "Christ Our Hope," will be his first visit to the United States as pope. He will be in Washington April 15-17 and in New York April 18-20. Cardinal Egan said he hopes the papal visit to the New York Archdiocese will offer an opportunity to focus on "what the Catholic Church is all about -- the Gospel, prayer and our commitment to justice and charity."

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