By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Miami and Atlanta, which encompass all of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, pose for a photo after celebrating Mass Feb. 10, 2020, at St. John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral in Rome. All bishops must come to Rome every five years to make an ad limina report on the state of their dioceses, although that schedule is not always followed. This is the first ad limina in eight years for the U.S. bishops.
Archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit tour the basilica of St. John Lateran, the pope's cathedral as the bishop of Rome, after celebrating Mass there with bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Miami and Atlanta, which encompass all of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
Archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit to Rome tour the colosseum Feb. 10, 2020.
Archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit tour the Roman Forum Feb. 10, 2020.
Exterior view of the Cathedral of Orvieto, where Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated Mass Feb. 11, 2020. A Vatican holiday allowed him to spend the day with the archdiocesan pilgrims who are accompanying him on his ad limina visit to the Vatican. Most of his days will be taken up by meetings with the various Vatican dicasteries, or departments.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches while celebrating Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020. "Today was feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick. As Mary said to the servants at Cana, 'do whatever he tells you'," the archbishop wrote on his Instagram and Twitter feed.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020. Joining him were Miami Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado, right, and former auxiliary bishop Peter Baldacchino, now bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He joined the Miami pilgrims for the day trip as he also was in Rome making his ad limina visit with the bishops from his region, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020. "Today is a Vatican holiday - so no meetings," the archbishop wrote on his Twitter account. The chapel contains a relic of the eucharistic miracle that occurred in 1263 in the nearby town of Bolsena, when a traveling priest who had doubts about the truth of transubstantiation found that his host was bleeding so much that it stained the altar cloth. The cloth is now stored in the Chapel of the Corporal inside the cathedral.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski gives Communion to archdiocesan pilgrims gathered for Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020. The pilgrims accompanied the archbishop on his ad limina visit to Rome. All bishops must make this report on the state of their dioceses, usually every five years. The archbishop is making his ad limina trip along with all the bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski poses with archdiocesan priests accompanying him on his ad limina visit to the Vatican, along with Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado (second from right) and former auxiliary bishop, now Las Cruces bishop, Peter Baldacchino (third from left), who was also making his ad limina visit with the bishops from his region, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. He joined the archdiocesan group for the day trip to Orvieto. Priests and pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Miami celebrated Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020. Joining him were Miami Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado, right, and former auxiliary bishop Peter Baldacchino, now bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He joined the Miami pilgrims for the day trip as he also was in Rome making his ad limina visit with the bishops from his region, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
The panels above the altar are open so that the corporal of the eucharistic miracle is visible to Archbishop Thomas Wenski and archdiocesan pilgrims who celebrated Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto, Feb. 11, 2020.
View of Pope Francis during the general audience Feb. 12, 2020, at Pope Paul VI Hall. On hand were archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit to the Vatican. The bishops of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina will celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Peter on Thursday, Feb. 13, and be briefly introduced to the Holy Father before all the bishops meet with him in private.
We were this close: Picture taken by Sister Elizabeth Worley show Pope Francis greeting people during the general audience Feb. 12, 2020, at Pope Paul VI Hall, which was attended by archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit to the Vatican.
Picture taken by Sister Elizabeth Worley show Pope Francis greeting people during the general audience Feb. 12, 2020, at Pope Paul VI Hall, which was attended by archdiocesan pilgrims accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his ad limina visit to the Vatican.
On Feb. 13, 2020, Archbishop Thomas Wenski was the main celebrant of the Mass at the tomb of St. Peter, in St. Peter's Basilica, along with the bishops and delegations from the other dioceses of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
On Feb. 13, 2020, Archbishop Thomas Wenski was the main celebrant of the Mass at the tomb of St. Peter, in St. Peter's Basilica, along with the bishops and delegations from the other dioceses of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
On Feb. 13, 2020, Archbishop Thomas Wenski was the main celebrant of the Mass at the tomb of St. Peter, in St. Peter's Basilica, along with the bishops and delegations from the other dioceses of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
Bishops from the U.S. Region 14 - representing Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina - are shown here getting off the buses in front of the Apostolic Palace for audience with Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020.
Waiting for Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: This selfie shows, from left, Father Christopher Marino, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Msgr. Chanel Jeanty and Father Richard Vigoa waiting outside the door that will open to take them to the audience with Pope Francis. As the archbishop explained on his Twitter feed: "Bishops can bring some 'guests' to greet the Pope. But Pope will meet with just the bishops."
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets the Holy Father before meeting with him along with the other bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina. The meeting lasted three hours.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Archbishop Thomas Wenski introduces Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado to the Holy Father during his ad limina visit to Rome. Later, the pope met for three hours with all the bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, who were making their ad limina visit at the same time.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Archbishop Thomas Wenski introduces Sister Elizabeth Worley, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, to the Holy Father during his ad limina visit to Rome. Looking on is Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado. Sister Elizabeth is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine who also functions as the archdiocese's chief operating officer. Afterward, the pope met for three hours with all the bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, who were making their ad limina visit at the same time.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, along with their guests, are introducted to the Holy Father. The bishops, making their ad limina visit to Rome, later met alone with the pope.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Archbishop Thomas Wenski shows the Holy Father his Harley Davidson socks during his ad limina visit. Bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina met as a group with the Holy Father for three hours.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina meet with the Holy Father as part of their ad limina visit to Rome. Their meeting lasted three hours.
Meeting Pope Francis, Feb. 13, 2020: Bishops from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina meet with the Holy Father as part of their ad limina visit to Rome. Their meeting lasted three hours.
Photography: COURTESY
MIAMI | El arzobispo Thomas Wenski y un grupo de sacerdotes y peregrinos de la arquidiócesis, llegaron a Roma el 9 de febrero para su visita ad limina, presentar un informe obligatorio sobre el estado de la diócesis que todo obispo debe hacer, usualmente, cada cinco años. El informe de esta visita es el primero con el papa Francisco y representa una revisión de ocho años de la vida de la arquidiócesis.
El arzobispo y el obispo auxiliar, Mons. Enrique Delgado, pasaron la mayor parte de la semana visitando los diferentes dicasterios, o departamentos del Vaticano. Los obispos de las provincias eclesiásticas de Miami y Atlanta —que abarcan toda la Florida, Georgia, Carolina del Norte y del Sur— también están haciendo su visita ad limina al mismo tiempo. Los obispos celebraron la Misa temprano en la mañana del 10 de febrero, en la Basílica de San Juan de Letrán, la catedral del papa, en Roma.
Mientras el arzobispo visitaba los dicasterios el 10 de febrero, los peregrinos de la arquidiócesis asistieron a la Misa celebrada en San Juan de Letrán por los obispos, y luego recorrieron la catedral, el coliseo y el Foro Romano, así como los cuarteles de la Guardia Suiza.
Como el 11 de febrero era un día festivo en la Ciudad del Vaticano, el arzobispo Wenski pudo unirse a los peregrinos en Orvieto, donde celebró la Misa en la catedral que alberga la reliquia del milagro eucarístico que tuvo lugar en la cercana ciudad de Bolsena, en 1263. En ese entonces, un sacerdote viajero que tenía dudas sobre la verdad de la transubstanciación encontró que su hostia sangraba tanto que manchaba el mantel del altar. El paño está ahora guardado en la Capilla del Corporal dentro de la catedral.
El arzobispo celebró la Misa con los otros obispos en la Basílica de Santa María Mayor, el 12 de febrero, antes de continuar con sus reuniones de dicasterio. Los peregrinos, mientras tanto, asistieron a la audiencia general con el papa Francisco, y más tarde visitaron los Scavi, las antiguas excavaciones romanas debajo de la Basílica de San Pedro, culminando en la tumba de San Pedro. Por la tarde, el arzobispo Wenski se unió a ellos para la Misa en la parroquia de Santa Maria della Grazie alle Fornaci.
El jueves 13 de febrero, los peregrinos se unieron al arzobispo Wenski, quien ofi ció la Misa en la tumba de San Pedro, dentro de la Basílica de San Pedro, junto con los obispos y las delegaciones de las otras diócesis de la Florida, Georgia, Carolina del Norte y del Sur. Después de la Misa, los obispos se reunieron con el papa Francisco y los peregrinos visitaron los Museos Vaticanos y la Capilla Sixtina. Por la tarde, se unieron al arzobispo para una recepción en la residencia del embajador estadounidense ante la Santa Sede.
“Algunos de nosotros tuvimos el privilegio de ser presentados al papa Francisco por el arzobispo Wenski antes de la reunión de los obispos con el papa”, dijo la Hna. Elizabeth Worley, canciller arquidiocesana de administración. “El papa estaba muy contento de ver religiosas presentes (yo y cuatro hermanas que viven y trabajan en Roma y son amigas del obispo (William) Wack (de Pensacola-Tallahassee)”.
El viernes 14 de febrero, se planeó la visita de los peregrinos al monasterio San Gregorio al Celio y a las Misioneras de la Caridad, para ver la habitación donde vivía la Madre Teresa de Calcuta y tener la oportunidad de venerar sus reliquias. La peregrinación concluyó esa tarde con la Misa en la Basílica de San Pablo Extramuros, con los peregrinos de todas las diócesis y sus obispos como celebrantes. Los peregrinos de Miami cenaron con el arzobispo Wenski antes de regresar a casa el sábado por la mañana.
Puede ver fotografías y relatos del Arzobispo Wenski sobre la peregrinación a Roma en sus redes sociales: Twitter @ thomaswenski e Instagram @thomas wenski.
