Benedict Discovers America

To mark the Pope’s arrival in America, the Roman daily Il Messaggero carried an editorial on April 17, 2008, about freedom and religion. (“La dignità della fede nella libertà dei laici,” p. 25, by Giuseppe Mammarella.) The piece quotes Pope Benedict XVI as saying, “I find it fascinating that in this nation [the United States] a positive concept of secularism (laicità) is affirmed.” He would actually like the American model to inspire a new vitality for Church life in Europe.

The article also suggested (it seems to me) the source of this “positive concept of laicity / secularism” that the Pope finds so appealing. “There are two elements expressed in American history,” claims the editorial, “the experience of the first Puritan communities in their search for a freedom of religion denied in Europe, which merges with the secular vision of the founding fathers...” The Puritans valued “laicity” as living in the world as people of faith. Being “secular” in the sense of engaging the time and place where they found themselves was a vital form of Puritan spirituality, and quite central to their enterprise. No cloistering allowed. And that helped to give a different face to Christianity in America. “Fascinating,” says the Pope.

Ah, welcome to America!