Presentation of a chalice to the Archbishop of New Orleans

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY
TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERS

MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

PRESENTATION OF A CHALICE
BY HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF NEW ORLEANS

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Before leaving, I would like to pause to acknowledge the immense suffering endured by the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as their courage in the challenging work of rebuilding. I would like to present Archbishop Alfred Hughes with a chalice, which I hope will be accepted as a sign of my prayerful solidarity with the faithful of the Archdiocese, and my personal gratitude for the tireless devotion which he and Archbishops Philip Hannan and Francis Schulte showed toward the flock entrusted to their care.