ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

The Church in Philadelphia is deeply pleased by the presence today of Cardinal Bevilacqua, Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, and all the Bishops who join with Archbishop Green in this Eucharistic celebration. We are particularly gratified by the representation of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and acknowledge the presence of Archbishop Soroka, Archeparch of Philadelphia and his predecessor Archbishop Sulyk, together with Bishop Paska and Bishop Bura. We are also pleased to have so many priests and so many seminarians at this Mass.

Today the whole Archdiocese of Philadelphia celebrates with great joy. James Patrick Green returns to the Church of his Baptism, his First Communion, his Confirmation and his Ordination to the Priesthood. He comes home as an Archbishop of the Church. He does this just weeks after his Episcopal Ordination in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

After having served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and after graduate studies in Rome, Father Green in 1985 generously answered the call of the Holy See to serve in a special ministry to the universal Church.

This priestly ministry took him to various parts of the world, involving him in activities that reflected the pastoral care and concern of the Holy Father for different nations. In Papua New Guinea, Korea, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Taiwan, Monsignor Green was part of the life of the Church and a witness and servant of the inculturation of the Gospel in numerous communities. In these last three years he has served Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in the Secretariat of State of the Vatican.

Now after an extended period of generous and dedicated collaboration in the work of the Holy See, he has been chosen to represent directly and personally Pope Benedict XVI as the Holy Father assists local Churches and serves various peoples throughout the world.

Archbishop Green’s mission will now take him to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana to bear witness to the Gospel and to make present everywhere throughout this immense region the pastoral solicitude of the Holy Father, who is the visible principle of unity for the entire Church.

We gather at this time to express solidarity with him in his new ministry. This work will be an expression of the evangelizing, missionary and pastoral service not only of the Holy See, but also of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which rejoices in his appointment and spiritually supports him.

Archbishop Green goes forth as both the Representative of the Holy Father and as a gift of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to the universal Church.

His specific ministry is to make the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ present in the jurisdictions that he will serve. A special work of the Holy See is to promote peace among the nations, on the pillars of justice and love, freedom and truth.

Hence, Archbishop Green, as the Holy Father’s Representative, will be a herald of international peace, a promoter of global justice and charity, and a strenuous defender of the cause of human life. From now on he will be ever more engaged in the international effort of the Holy See to foster freedom and proclaim the truth of the inviolability of human dignity.

All of this, however, he will do as a Bishop of the Church of God, supporting his brother Bishops in five nations in Southern Africa. Here he will serve not a single diocese but many local Churches, bringing in his person the support of the Holy Father to the evangelizing, missionary and pastoral mission of an extensive area of the Church.

The focus of all his activities will be to promote the building up of God’s kingdom through the power of the Gospel and the Sacraments of the Church. The very center of his ministry will be, as in the case of every priest and Bishop, the Holy Eucharist. Like every priest and Bishop, he is called to pray for Christ’s flock, to share their joys and their hopes and sufferings, and to personify constantly the loving mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In a particular way he is called to extend encouragement, assistance and fraternal support to the local Bishops as they exercise their pastoral role and sustain and guide the People of God.

Today Archbishop Green comes home to Philadelphia, en route to his new mission. He embraces anew his mother, his sisters, all his family, friends and brother priests. He renews his communion with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that formed him in Christian living and prepared him well for his priestly mission.

He finds new strength in the support of classmates and friends, whose presence recalls to him the mystery of God’s providence in his life, as well as the origins of his priestly journey. He remembers all the graces of his vocation, the people whom he served, the experiences of his ministry, including his special service as Secretary to the late Cardinal John Joseph Krol. He gives thanks for all those who did so much for him and who contributed to his formation by their help, their generosity, their friendship and their prayers.

Reflecting on all of this, Archbishop Green is given the opportunity today by the Church to renew all the dedication of his priesthood and to commit himself vigorously as a Bishop to the mission that lies ahead of him.

This whole worshiping community is assembled here in this Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to support Archbishop Green in prayer. As his family and friends, and as members of the Church of Philadelphia and beyond, we are able to offer him the great support of this Mass, the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is offered to give him grace and strength.

Since we know that his new mission will require special support for him, we also invoke on his behalf the intercession of the Archangels whose feast we celebrate today. We invoke Saint Michael to defend him, Saint Gabriel to counsel him and Saint Raphael to accompany him on his mission from beginning to end.

As we gather in the presence of the Angels during this Eucharistic Supper of the Lamb of God, we renew our trust in the power of the Blood of the Lamb that today is offered to the Father for the work and new episcopal ministry of our brother James.

We are also grateful to God for this opportunity to join a new Bishop of the Church as he professes his holy Catholic faith. Archbishop Green, as a successor of the Apostles, joins the Apostle Nathaniel, whom we encounter today in our Gospel, to lead us in a great act of faith. Together with Nathaniel, together with Archbishop Green, together with the Apostle Peter and Peter’s successor, Benedict XVI, Bishop of Rome, we all proclaim Jesus Christ, confessing: "You are the Son of God." "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

In the name then of the Lord Jesus, may you go forth, Jim, on your mission to serve worthily as a Representative of our Holy Father, trusting in the power of the Paschal Mystery and relying on the intercession of Mary, the Queen of Angels.

The Church of Philadelphia, of which you have been so much a part and which has been so much a part of you, is proud of the working of God’s grace in your life. With great confidence the Archdiocese supports you, prays for you, and trusts that you will be faithful to the end. Amen.