Pallium Path: A Church United

The archdiocesan group smiles in the Garden of the Madonina at Borgo Laudato Si'.

Castel Gandalfo, the papal summer residence, overlooks a beautiful lake.

Archbishop Aquila celebrated Mass for pilgrims in Borgo Laudato Si's Garden of the Madonina.

Deacon Steve Stemper proclaims the Gospel at Mass.

Father Jim Goggins of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Wheat Ridge prays during Mass.

A pilgrim proclaims the readings during Mass.

Borgo Laudato Si' is an integral ecology project in the Vatican.

Members of the archdiocesan mission leadership team smile for a photo at the Borgo Laudato Si'.

An ancient Roman road leading up to the Castel Gandalfo.

Pope Leo's papal crest and motto are on full display at the Borgo Laudato Si'.

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.)

We’ve been in Rome three days now, and they’ve been filled with holy saints and sites, with lots to see, experience and learn.

St. Paul Outside the Walls was beautiful. Our after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums — and the half hour we had alone in the Sistine Chapel — was moving. Borgo Laudato Si’, a Vatican project for integral ecology, was impressive. Castel Gandalfo, the pope’s summer residence, was beautiful, too.

As wonderful as all these places have been, something much simpler has struck me most: the Church is much bigger than we imagine, and she is alive.

It’s easy to think of our particular church when we hear of the Catholic Church. That’s not a bad thing! We experience God and his Church most frequently in our local parish community. But it’s a microcosm, not the entire ecclesial universe.

The Church is bigger than my parish or yours. She’s bigger than the Denver Metro. She’s bigger than the Archdiocese of Denver. She’s bigger than the Church in the United States, even. The Church is global, intergenerational, heavenly and earthly, ever ancient and ever new.

Walking through the streets of Rome, seeing innumerable cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, religious men and women and lay faithful speaking dozens of languages is a powerful and palpable reminder of the catholicity (universality) of the Church. As we run into each other on the streets and in churches, as we exchange greetings in various languages, as we pray together at various holy places, we are reminded that “in Illo uno unum,” in the One we are one, as Pope Leo’s papal motto tells us.

In a world so divided by so many things, this kind of unity and connection is inspiring. What else, other than faith, can bring such different people and cultures together? Who else, other than Jesus, can achieve such peaceful togetherness?

It’s a miracle, quite honestly. Jesus really is a magnet, drawing us closer to himself and each other. In a sense, it’s a foretaste of Heaven, when we’ll all be perfectly united with God and each other.

Dear reader, while Rome and the Vatican might give us a particular taste of that catholicity, that universality, and that togetherness, it’s not the only place that can. We can experience a measure of that unity in our own parishes, communities and archdiocese. The closer we draw to Jesus, the closer he’ll bring us to each other.

In a sense, you’re testing that out right now, by following along with us at a distance, uniting with Archbishop Golka and us as he prepares to receive the pallium.

As you read this today, consider what the Church means to you. Might Jesus be inviting you to broaden your perspective? How is Jesus calling you to live a new unity today?