When he became a priest four decades ago, Archbishop Jose Gomez did not expect that he would one day lead the largest archdiocese in the U.S., or the country’s bishops’ conference.
“I just wanted to be a priest,” Gomez told CNA with a laugh, speaking about his election.
“Somehow God wanted me to do what I am doing, and I’m just counting on the grace of God to be able to be faithful to what God is asking me to do.”
“And also on intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” he added, explaining that he has entrusted all of his ministry as a bishop to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Gomez, 67, was elected Nov. 12 as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The archbishop, born in Monterrey, Mexico, and ordained a priest in Spain, is the first Latino to lead the bishops’ conference. He is also the first immigrant to head the conference.
His election is historic, but it was no surprise. Gomez became vice president of the conference, a central organizing body of almost 200 Catholic bishops with more than 300 employees, in 2016. The vice president is traditionally elected to the top job, so Gomez knew his election was likely….
Gomez is the first bishop elected to lead the conference to be associated with Opus Dei, a Church group, founded in Spain and supported by Pope St. John Paul, that focuses on finding holiness in everyday life, and on the call to holiness of lay Catholics. The archbishop became affiliated with Opus Dei as a college student, and was a priest in the organization, formally called a personal prelature.
The archbishop’s vision of the Church, focused on collaboration and friendship between laity and clerics, and on the idea that everyone should be a saint, is informed by his experience in Opus Dei.
“The spirituality of Opus Dei,” he told CNA, “basically is to strive for holiness— personal sanctification — and ministry. Sharing our faith with everybody else.”
Gomez told CNA that groups like Opus Dei, along with other Church movements like the NeoCatechumenal Way and Communion and Liberation that have gained popularity in recent decades, emphasize “the universal call to holiness making a reality in the life of the Church….”
The archbishop said that in his own ministry as a bishop, he looks to the example of Pope St. John Paul II, and, that among American bishops, he has been influenced and inspired by a number of bishops.
“Obviously in the United States I had the blessing of working together with Archbishop Chaput because I was his auxiliary bishop, so he has been a wonderful example to me. But I have been influenced by many other bishops: Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Archbishop Patrick Flores, and then Cardinal William Levada, who just passed away, he was a good friend….”
The above comes from a Nov. 12 story by JD Flynn with Catholic News Agency.
This man is the archbishop of by far the largest archdiocese in the US. He’s now the President of the USCCB. It’s high time he be made a cardinal! Get on it, Francis!
It’s absolutely insulting that someone like Joseph Tobin of Newark, NJ could be made a cardinal (while facing continued questions about homosexuality) before someone like Gomez.
I am not filled with hope or confidence in his leadership , strange he does not mention mahoney , who I think will be the real power behind him as one of his influences. His contempt for the rule of law and the concerns of citizens in regards to immigration speaks volumes , his contempt for the laity in the Religious Education Conference allowing james martin and the mahoney to speak , his treatment of the faithful trying to hand him a petition in this matter tells us all we need to know .With the upcoming wave of lawsuits from the statute of limitations on sex abuse being extended it will be telling on how he handles it . What is his plan to bring back fallen away Catholics and restore the credibility of the church in the public sphere , how about that as a priority.
I sometimes think Red Hats come less from merit [however that is measured] and more on ‘friends’ in higher places.
The Catholic Church abandoned teaching the Catechism and Christian Morality, after the Council– over half a century ago! As Pope St. Paul VI correctly noted, the Church opened her doors and windows to the world (and became worldly, too!) and the “smoke of Satan” entered! Young Catholics today, hardly recognize the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the sacredness of the Catholic home and family, the holiness of Motherhood, the sanctity of all life, from conception to natural death! The Catholic Husband and Wife begin their lifelong conjugal marital union, after their Wedding Mass, on their Honeymoon! Expecting to soon welcome a houseful of beloved children! The USCCB no longer has a church full of devout Catholic laymen and their families, at all! Many have no idea what the Mass is, nor the fact that Our Lord is truly present, in the Blessed Sacrament! The USCCB had better get busy, and teach Catholicism– and form a true Church, for Christ– His Mission is nearly lost!
I agree with many of your statements, so I hope you do not misunderstand. But as I see it, there have always been waves of periods throughout the Church’s long history that we had some poor leaders. I do not want more folks thinking the SSPX is the way to go. The Council which you do not blame was not the problem. The Vatican II documents are beautiful to anyone who bothers reading them. Some took advantage of the times and tired to lead Christ’s Church into the world for their own convenience. When Christ said we are to be in the world, but not of the world.