Excerpts from
Ted Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict XVI
(CNN)—Shortly before he died from brain cancer, Sen Ted
Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI. President Obama delivered the
letter to the pontiff during his visit to the
Sen Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the
pontiff to pray for him as he dealt with cancer.
The following are excerpts from the letter as read by
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at Kennedy's private burial service Saturday in
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 Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I
hope this letter finds you in good health.
I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead
our Church and inspire our world during these challenging times. 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 part of a wonderful family.
Both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the
center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and 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. 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 have worked to welcome the immigrant, to 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 field, and I'll 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 of my faith. I continue
to pray for God's blessings on you and on our Church, and would be most thankful
for your prayers for me.
Two weeks later, Kennedy received a response from the
The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted
to President Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting.
He was saddened to know of your illness, and asked me to assure you of his
concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your
promise of prayers for him, for the needs of our universal church.
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 intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in the Lord.
Thanks to Paulette for sending me the excerpts.
Excerpts from Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict XVI
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/08/26/us/politics/1194817110691/edward-m-kennedy-1932-2009.html
Edward M. Kennedy, 1932 - 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/02/22/us/politics/20080602_KENNEDY_TIMELINE.html
Milestones: Edward M. Kennedy