A celebration in Rome

Archbishop Murphy reflects on his journey to Rome to receive the pallium from Pope John Paul II in his weekly Catholic Northwest Progress “In Joy and Hope” column. The pallium is a band of white cloth with black crosses. It serves as the image of the flock which the archbishop as shepherd is to watch over, guide and nourish. He describes how the Pope’s homily that day resonated deeply with him. “To proclaim the Gospel today is not easy. To teach in unity with the church may not be popular,” said Archbishop Murphy. “Individual theologians and leaders in the church may well point to the surveys or opinions of people in our country today, but the Bishop is asked to be the teacher who is faithful to the Gospel, to our tradition and the magisterium.”