By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
The recently concluded annual Bishops’ Conference in Baltimore was packed with meetings, presentations, elections to various committees, updates and impacts regarding the aftermath of the national elections, and conversations on many levels about pathways forward for the Catholic Church in the United States. It is a very dynamic environment that has the characteristics of a colorful kaleidoscope, except in this gathering the moving parts are all clothed in black. Yet, in recent years those who plan the annual event, at the behest of the body of bishops, have incorporated more time for quiet prayer, eucharistic adoration, relaxing meals and some exercise. As always, the daily Masses provide the anchor for all activity that follows in the course of a day.

Each time the national conference of bishops gathers the apostolic nuncio addresses the assembled body. Cardinal Christophe Pierre currently occupies the office of nuncio as Pope Francis’ ambassador to the church in the United States. His message is always a window into the Holy Father’s recent teachings, pertinent events in the church in the United States and throughout the world, and an overview of the church in relationship to the modern world. Of course, a significant milestone in our time is the recently concluded Synod on Synodality, a three-year journey that produced a final document to guide the church from within and to encourage prophetic dialogue with the modern world. There will be much to unpack, study and apply for the foreseeable future.

In his address Cardinal Christophe pointed to the upcoming Jubilee Year of Hope that will be inaugurated by Pope Francis on the feast of the Holy Family on Dec. 29, 2024. The Holy Father has written a marvelous document for this Year of Favor and Grace from the Lord, entitled, Spes non Confundit, or Hope does not Disappoint. (Romans 5:5)

The full context for this bold proclamation of faith is contained in the following passage. “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God … Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)

Pope Francis offers this reflection regarding St. Paul’s inspired words to the Romans. “In the spirit of hope, the Apostle Paul addressed these words of encouragement to the Christian community of Rome. Hope is the central message of the coming Jubilee that, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope proclaims every twenty-five years. My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local churches. For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. John 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope.” (1 Tim 1:1) (Spes non Confundit)

For the Christian, hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:19)

Along with the Jubilee of Hope the nuncio also drew upon the Holy Father’s most recent encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Delixit Nos, (The Lord) He loved us. “The symbol of the heart has often been used to express the love of Jesus Christ. Some have questioned whether this symbol is still meaningful today. Yet living as we do in an age of superficiality, rushing frenetically from one thing to another without really knowing why, and ending up as insatiable consumers and slaves to the mechanisms of a market unconcerned about the deeper meaning of our lives, all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart.” (Delixit Nos)

When the heart is emboldened by God’s grace, we can face an uncertain future better equipped to avoid the mine fields of unbelief, doubt and fear. Once again, the Holy Father yearns to carry on his shoulders a world mired in darkness and division into the light of a new day suffused with the heart and hope of the Gospel.