College educators say they're encouraged, challenged by pope's words

Published: 2008-04-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Right after Pope Benedict XVI's address to Catholic educators April 17 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, college presidents and superintendents were ready to do their homework. Several of them said they wanted to carefully read and reread the pope's address to unpack its rich, detailed message. During the address to more than 400 educators, the pope spoke softly, reading his text as prepared. His words were interrupted twice with applause -- when he expressed "profound gratitude" for the educators' work and when he implored them to continue their efforts for "those in poorer areas." The intellectual depth of his message was not lost on these educators, nor was the fact that he spoke to them as one who understands their challenges, telling them he knows of their sacrifice and dedication from his "own days as a professor." "He came to us as a colleague and as the Holy Father," said Cynthia Zane, president of Hilbert College in Hamburg, N.Y. Referring to the pope's intellectualism and college teaching experience, she added, "Who better to understand our work and our mission?"

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