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Sr Maureen Cusick meets Pope Benedict

Sr Maureen Cusick, our General Leader, a member of the executive of the UISG (the International Union of Superiors General) was recently invited to a private audience with the Pope together with other members of the Union of Superiors General :

Maureen writes:

On February 18th there was a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI for UISG (Women Superios General and USG (Men Superios General). We were eight women and ten men with Cardinal Bertone, Caridnal Rode and Archbishop Gardin. The whole experience was an adventure in so many aspects - even to finding our way inside the Vatican, the stunningly beautiful room, the privacy and degree of informality, the friendly and warm tone of Pope Benedict. It has been 25 years since there had last been a private audience for the executive leaders of Religious Orders. He showed some surprise at the length of time when this was mentioned at the opening address by the President of the Men's union. The whole audience lasted nearly two hours. There was no official text thecause it was an open discussion with four questions posed to him the beginning to which he responded. After this response the to the questions the discussion was open and free.

The audience ended as we prayed the Angelus. The Holy Father asked us to take his greeting and blessings to all our sisters and brothers and to thank them for the gift our their lives for the mission of the Church

We were introduced to the Holy Father individually at the end and he spoke a work to each one of us. When I said which congregation I was from, Cardinal Rode, the Prefect fro Religious, said 'Ah, Libermann' but the Holy Father said very quickly, at the same time as myself - 'No, Ratisbonne'!!