SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -
Shreveport Catholic Bishop Michael Duca has a unique way of describing his recent 9 day trip to the Vatican to visit Pope Benedict XVI.
"It was an experience I term unbelievably extraordinary and unbelievably ordinary," said Duca.
The "ordinary" is the background of Vatican City, it's reflection of everyday church life much the same as what we see here in the United States. There's a bishop. There is a church community with offices and staff.
The "extraordinary" is the majestic St. Peter's Basilica in all its splendor.
"When you go to a place like St. Peter's, you are overwhelmed by the beauty of it, but when you say mass there and walk around back ... you find it's like any other parish."
Just a day before Duca's departure for the Vatican, the Holy Father addressed a major concern with what he described as a political attack on religious freedoms.
An example of this is the U.S. government's new mandate on birth control from President Barack Obama's health care reform law.
It requires all provider plans to cover birth control without co-pay for women. That includes religious organizations and hospitals like Christus Schumpert in Shreveport.
"Some of the freedoms we had to follow our conscience are being eroded or trying to be eroded, so that in some cases we may not be able to act in correspondence with our faith and might actually be forced to act against our faith," said Duca.
Back at the Vatican, Duca described the highlight of his journey; a meeting with the Holy Father and a chance to ask a question.
"It was just an amazing moment to be that close," said Duca about meeting Pope Benedict.
Instead of a question, Duca decided to make a statement applauding the pope's crusade called the new evangelization urging every Christian to renew their true path of life through Christ.
"When to take the focus off of us and in love show it to others which I think we find in the heart of the gospel, I think he's really on to something trying to call us back to our initial mission of the church," said Duca. "People always hear the no, no, no and I think he (Pope Benedict) wants us more to get the message out of hope that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life."
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Bishop Duca took that message home as a new challenge to continue to strengthen the faith of his religious community and to also answer the call of mission work to help those most in need.
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Pope Benedict XVI and Shreveport Bishop Michael Duca at the Vatican, Rome
Papal Mass at the Vatican in Rome
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