Kennedy's Dramatic Last Letter to Pope

By William Wan

If you haven't seen or heard it yet, I just want to mention here Sen. Edward Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict XVI and the Pope's reply, all of which was dramatically revealed for the first time at Kennedy's burial Saturday.

It was previously known that President Obama had carried a letter from the ailing Catholic senator to the Pope during Obama's visit to Rome last month. It was also known that Pope Benedict had sent Kennedy a message in reply. But the contents of both letters were unknown until this weekend.

At Kennedy's interment at Arlington, retired Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick read both letters aloud.

The words of Kennedy, a lifelong Catholic, were particularly revealing. His faith has been controversial for some in the church because of his stances on issues like abortion. Kennedy's letter, in part, reads like an argument before final judgment about the span of his life and what he believes he had fought for and accomplished:

"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 have been the focus of my work as a United States senator. "

He mentions health care -- an issue he fought for most of his career in the senate. Then he moves on to address what he perceived to be his failings in life and, in an indirect way, the times when his beliefs clashed with those of the official church teaching:

"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. "

Equally fascinating is the Pope's reply, with warm greetings and assurances of prayers, to Kennedy:

"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 and 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. "

By William Wan  |  August 31, 2009; 10:59 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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