Tri-City priests: Pope touched hearts in U.S.

Pope Francis’ visit to the United States last week touched American hearts and showed that the Roman Catholic Church still has a role to play in the world, two Tri-City area priests said.
“Overall, it was a very positive thing,” said the Rev. Herbert Bennerfield III, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson.
“For a week our nation focused, in large part, upon religion and I don’t see that as a bad thing. I see that as a good thing.”
Last week, the pope traveled to Washington, D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. He arrived Sept. 22 and departed Sunday for Rome.
Although the pope met with President Obama, addressed Congress, and talked to the United Nations General Assembly, he made time to visit with those considered by society to be the least of our brethren — children, the homeless, and the incarcerated.
He has a way of making headlines, controversial to some or not.
“I was pleased that he received so much coverage,” Bennerfield said.
“I realize that maybe it was not all positive, but still he has been covered because the newspapers see that the Catholic Church still matters in our world.
“Whether you agree or disagree with the pope, people are still interested in hearing him,” Bennerfield said.
The Rev. J. Douglas Courville, pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Berwick, has been impressed with the pope since the beginning when elected in 2013.
Courville recalls the pope as “prayerful, inspired and a gift of God. “I think his visit to America touched the hearts of people,” said Courville.
“I think his person as much as his words were a beautiful message.”
Courville studied canon law as a priest at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
“I’m familiar with St. Patrick’s, where he went to have lunch with the homeless,” said Courville. “And there are a lot of homeless people in that area. The compassion he showed was just a beautiful example for all of us, really.”
Courville was amazed by the pope’s address to Congress. He believes the country, not just Congress, was called to “be a better self.”
“He took some chances there and said some things that needed to be said in a different way that resonates in the hearts of people,” Courville said.
The pope’s approaches to compassion do not point to any signs of doctrinal changes in the Catholic Church as far as Bennerfield is concerned.
“Who knows where the spirit is going to lead the church?” Courville said.
“Across the board, not just Catholics, but people in general, really feel he is a breath of fresh air.”

This story was written by Shea Drake of The Daily Review. Reach her at sdrake@daily-review.com.