The events of these past weeks have been incredible for our organization of lay leaders as a delegation traveled to Rome to deliver Our Response in Faith to the Holy Father's encyclical Caritas in Veritate - Charity in Truth.

Below is a photo of the presentation of the Cardinals' edition of the Caritas prayer to Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Cardinal Turkson first suggested that we consider writing "a response" to the pope's encyclical. The picture shows (L-R) CALL members Jose Ambrozic and Jose Gonzalez, CALL President Robert Aguirre, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Fr. Matthew Munoz, and CALL's Episcopal Moderator Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles.

Cardinal Turkson was also presented with the Holy Father's edition of the book.

Cardinal editions of Our Response in Faith were also formally presented to Robert Cardinal Sarah of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," Archbishop Barthelemy Adoulonou of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Guzman Carriquiry of the Pontifical Commission on Latin American, Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and William Joseph Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The delegation and the response was wonderfully received in every instance and the idea of a group of U.S. lay leaders issuing a formal response in faith to the Holy Father was widely complimented and encouraged.

The CALL delegation attended the general papal audience on Wednesday morning, September 28, but did not present the book to the Holy Father at that time. As the delegation returned to the United States on September 29, they were able to leave the pope's book in the hands of a trusted emmisary who confirmed that it had been delivered to Pope Benedict XVI in the papal residence on October 7.

After the delivery of Our Response in Faith in Rome, copies of the document were distributed to every ordinary (bishop) in the U.S. as well as to every Hispanic bishop.

Now the challenge falls on our CALL chapters to find ways to live out this document...to help our members respond in faith. This will be our challenge over the coming year and, to assist in that, we hope to issue a companion guide for those interested in deepening their faith and living the Holy Father's social teaching in this important encyclical.