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| January 2005 |
| Bishop Carlson back from ad limina
visit with pope |
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Bishop Robert J. Carlson recently returned
from his ad limina visit with Pope John Paul II.
Every bishop is required to go in person to report to the Holy
Father about the state of his diocese every five years.
Bishop Carlson actually made his first ad limina visit to Rome
as leader of the Diocese of Sioux Falls six years ago as the
Vatican delayed all ad limina visits in 2000 because of the
“Holy Year” declared by the pope.
“I found the Holy Father to be very engaging,” said
Bishop Carlson. “He had some very specific questions.
He wanted to know about vocations in the diocese. He wanted
to know about family life and what we are doing to help people
who have been divorced...He wanted to know about Mass attendance
and I spoke about the strong faith of our diocese.”
“The pope also discussed religious life in the diocese
and was aware that we had two new contemplative communities,”
the bishop said.
The bishop found the pontiff alert and very in tune with what
is happening in the Sioux Falls diocese and the other dioceses
of the United States.
Prior to traveling to Rome, the bishop forwarded a 100-page
status report on the diocese and what the bishop expects for
the future of the diocese. (For more ad limina coverage, see
pp. 2, 6, 7) |
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