Reflection from Cardinal Maida
20th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II Visit to Detroit
September 18-19, 2007

Our hearts are filled with joy as we remember with gratitude the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to our local Church two decades ago. Many of us can still recall vividly the hope he inspired in us and the challenge he laid out for us as he graced our cathedral, visited permanent deacons at Ford Auditorium, lauded Polonia for their millennial faith in Hamtramck, and challenged us all to global solidarity at Hart Plaza.

We continue to find consolation in the Eucharistic celebration he shared with 90,000 clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese at the Pontiac Silverdome. The words of his stirring challenge and farewell to our nation at Metropolitan Airport still ring true today:

"America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation are revealed in the position you take toward the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially, the weakest and most defenseless ones… With sentiments of hope and love for America …my final prayer is this: that God will bless America, so that she may increasingly become—and truly be and long remain—"one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."