Ted Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict, sent
through President Barack Obama during the US leader's Vatican visit
this year, was read out at his interment in Arlington on
Saturday.
"Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand deliver
this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how
important my Roman Catholic faith is to me, and I am deeply grateful to
him," Kennedy wrote, quoted by various news reports.
"I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own
health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year
ago, and, although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll
on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life.
"I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful family, and both of my
parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center
of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained, nurtured and provided
solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect
human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my
path."
Politics Daily quotes Kennedy defending his public record: "I
want you to know, Your Holiness, that in my nearly 50 years of elective
office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open
doors of economic opportunity. I've worked to welcome the immigrant,
fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I
have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the
issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United
States Senator.
"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to
do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my
country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a
conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field and will
continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work
to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health
care for everyone.
"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and
though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed
to believe and respect the fundamental teachings. I continue to pray
for God's blessings on you and our Church and would be most thankful
for your prayers for me."
The Vatican responded to the letter about two weeks later, conveying the Pope's prayers for Kennedy.
"The Holy Father ... was saddened to know of your illness, and has
asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness.
"His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in
faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to
the will of God our merciful Father. He invokes upon you the
consolation and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who share in
His sufferings and trust in His promise of eternal life.
"Commending you and the members of your family to the loving
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially
imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and
strength in the Lord."
In remarks prepared for the interment service, Cardinal Theodore
McCarrick offered condolences to Kennedy's widow, Vicki, and the family
then added a story of his own that seemed to put in perspective the
entire saga of Kennedy's often tricky relationship to the church:
"They called him the Lion of the Senate and indeed that is what he was," Politics Daily quoted Cardinal McCarrick saying. "His roar and his zeal for what he believed made a difference in our nation's life."
"Sometimes, we who were his friends and had affection for him would get
mad at him when he roared at what we believed was the wrong side of an
issue which was important to us, but we always were touched by his
passion for the underdog, for the rights of working people, for better
education and for adequate health care for every American," the
cardinal added.
SOURCE
Ted Kennedy to Pope Benedict: 'I am writing with deep humility...' (Politics Daily)
Excerpts of Kennedy letter to pope and response (Google News/AP)