Pope blesses Bishop, Diocese

For by His grace, having entered the seminary, having completed your philosophical and theological studies, and having earned a license in theology at the Gregorian University, you were ordained a priest here in Rome.

Upon returning to your homeland, you entered upon your professional duties in the Diocese of Albany in America where you were, among other things, a parochial vicar, a chaplain for nuns, one of the moderators of the Catholic Interracial Council, chair of the Ecumenical Commission, and Vicar General. In 1977, Paul VI, our predecessor of happy memory, raised you to the Episcopal order and appointed you the leader of the See of Albany, where you continue to preside.

You have devoted the greater part of your life to the sacred ministry so that you might teach the divine precepts to the faithful entrusted to your care, so that you might lead them and dispense the grace of the sacraments to them.

It is fitting, therefore, recalling the blessed memory of your episcopate, my dear brother, that you not only declare the goodness of God but also be gladdened in Christ Jesus, His son "seeing that" -- to make use of the words of our predecessor Saint Leo the Great -- "we acknowledge in piety and truth that Christ accomplishes the work of our ministry, and we glory not in ourselves who are able to do nothing without Him, but in Him who is our very ability to act."

May the almighty and eternal God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, watch over you always and keep you joined always with the Apostolic See of Blessed Peter so that you may have the strength to carry out your pastoral office for the building up of the Church through which Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, is made known through the ages and is given to all people for their salvation.

And, finally, may the apostolic blessing which we impart to you, venerable brother, and to all the dear clergy and people of Albany be at once the messenger and the bringer of heavenly rewards.

From the Vatican, February 26, 2002, the 24th year of our Pontificate,

John Paul II

(The preceding was sent to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard to mark his 25th anniversary as bishop of Albany.)