Papal Preview

Father Cuong Pham, a Brooklyn priest studying in Rome, got a close-up look at Pope Benedict XVI March 7 in the Hall of Benediction, Vatican Palace as part of a three-day workshop on Internal Forum, sponsored by the Apostolic Penitentiary.  The Holy Father had a small meeting with young priest participants from all over the world, during which he took time to go around and greet everyone personally.  Father Cuong reports that he and the pope had a three-minute talk during which he asked about the Church in Brooklyn and said that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to the U.S. The pope also expressed the Holy See’s concerns over the recent communist crackdown of the Church in Vietnam, Father Cuong’s native country.