Ad Limina Visit
By Bishop Carl Mengeling

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Every five years each diocesan bishop is required to make the Ad Limina to Rome. Each of the 14 Regions of U.S. bishops are in that process. The bishops of Region 6 (Michigan and Ohio) completed theirs on May 8. The Ad Limina takes an entire week.

Canon 400 lists three goals: "During the year of the Ad Limina, the diocesan bishop is bound to submit a report to the Supreme Pontiff. He’s to go to Rome and venerate the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. He is to present himself to the Roman Pontiff."

The Ad Limina is an ancient Church tradition. The Latin ‘limina’ the plural of LIMEN means ‘thresholds.’ With the Latin ‘Ad’ it translates ‘to the thresholds.’ Bishops are required to make pilgrimage to the thresholds of the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

On Monday, May 3, the bishops of Region Six con-celebrated Mass at the tomb of St. Peter in the crypt of the Basilica. Cardinal Maida was principal celebrant.

On May 6 we con-celebrated at the main Altar over the tomb of St. Paul in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls. Archbishop Pilarczyk of Ohio was principal celebrant.

These pilgrimages to Sts. Peter and Paul truly strengthened our bond of episcopal communion and unity with over two millennia of the Church and with each other.

The pilgrimages to the tombs of Peter and Paul came to their fullness when each bishop presents himself to the Successor of Peter, John Paul II. In the Constitution ‘Good Shepherd’ of John Paul in 1982, he writes: "the pastor of the universal Church speaks and communicates with pastors of the diocesan Churches who came to see Cephas to deal with him concerning their dioceses and ministry, face to face, and in private and so share with him solicitude for all the Churches." The pope quotes Paul in Galatians 1:18: "After three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Cephas (Peter)."

We were present at the Wednesday General Audience and personally greeted the Holy Father at its conclusion. On May 6 we gathered with him in the Vatican. At these audiences, he delivers a major address. These 14 messages are for the Church in the U.S.A. Each of us again greeted the Holy Father.

Even though our Region VI group were with the Holy Father twice, the private audience was the highlight for me. A formal invitation arrives the day before. My audience was Tuesday, May 4 at 11:30.

The Holy Father permits each bishop to present a few people from the diocese and take a group photo with him. They leave and the private audience begins. Two of our priests accompanied me. Msgr. Steve Raica is the director of Casa Santa Maria, the residence of American priests who are pursuing graduate studies in Rome. Msgr. Raica begins his sixth year as director this fall. Father Karl Pung is doing graduate studies in spiritual theology.

The Pope was in a large chamber looking toward us as we approached. After I kissed the Petrine Ring and greeted him, I presented our Lansing priests. I informed the Holy Father that two of us shared his first name ‘Karol.’ He looked up with a broad smile. Our photo with the Holy Father accompanies this account.

In the name of all in the Diocese of Lansing, I expressed our love and esteem for him and particularly our heartfelt congratulations for his Silver Jubilee as Supreme Shepherd of the Church. I thanked him for the encyclical on the Holy Eucharist.

He asked about our diocese: how large? How many Catholics?; vocations and priesthood and religious life; spiritual care of students in universities. He was especially concerned about families and family spirituality. I learned from other bishops that the family was his main interest in these audiences. I informed him that our diocese will soon have a full time Office of Family Life. He was pleased and reminded me of his encyclical on the family.

The 10-minute audience ended with his Apostolic Blessing and the gift of a Pectoral Cross. The Cross commemorates the Pope’s 25th Jubilee. I used this cross for the first time during confirmation at St. John Parish, Davison on May 10.

Six months prior to the Ad Limina, each diocesan bishop submits a report to the Holy See on the status of the diocese. The 1988 ‘Directory for Ad Limina Visits’ details the extensive contents for this report. Most of our week consists of meetings at the various dicasteries (departments) that get these reports.

These sessions usually last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The Cardinal Prefect presides with his associates. The first sessions on Monday, May 6, were at the Congregation for Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education. The final session was on Saturday at the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, with Cardinal Ratzinger.

All the sessions were open to frank questions and lively discussion. It was obvious that they read our reports. Many bishops of Region VI presented serious issues that relate to our dioceses and the U.S.A. The officials of the various Dicasteries were knowledgeable and very helpful in the dialogue. The Ad Limina was a great grace for me. It was a joyful and beneficial week. It was especially good to be with Msgr. Raica and Father Pung at the Casa Santa Maria and the other great young American priests doing graduate studies.