Convention Day Two: Address from Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi

The highlight for me today was a morning address from Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi (who took over for JPII's legendary spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls) on "When the Pope Speaks to the World." We'll let CNS summarize the body of the text when it posts the story tomorrow (the full, original text can be found here); I will discuss some of the points made in the Q&A afterward.

-- When asked about Benedict XVI's 2006 Regensburg speech, where he drew some outrage for questioning the rejection of reason in elements of Muslim theology, Father Lombardi said that a "positive dynamic" grew from that speech. The tension brought to the forefront "how much misunderstanding exists (between the two faiths)," he said. Since then, Pope Benedict has been trying to start serious dialogue among Muslim leaders, desiring "to take what's there and find good. We want better dialogue and mutual understanding," Father Lombardi said. In the last question of the Q&A, he was asked if he thought anything should have been differently in light of the Regensburg event, and Father Lombardi responded that the Vatican's communications office is always working to improve on the preparation of documents and providing them in as clear a language as possible for journalists to interpret correctly.

-- Regarding the Holy Father's visit to the United States in April, Father Lombardi said that the Holy Father has not held a big discussion of the trip afterward back at the Vatican because everyone was happy with the visit. The pope was elated with the positive atmosphere he found in America, he said. Father Lombardi said that, personally, he grew in admiration for the American press and communication systems. "They were open to what the pope had to say with interest. It was a positive surprise to me," Father Lombardi said. "I didn't know American society and (it's) way of thinking." He said Pope Benedict has helped him better understand American society and its values.

-- He challenged the approximately 400 journalists in attendance several times to "see the good things, stress the good things," to understand the directives issued by the church and to use our skills to motivate readers to be better people.

-- There is no date set for the pope's followup to "Jesus of Nazareth," as the pope has a systematic approach to his writing and a printing date is not set until he is happy with his writing. Essentially, the books are done when they're done, Father Lombardi said, and translations also add to the unpredictability of release dates.

-- One journalist raised a concern that, in light of the pope's comments here on the sex abuse crisis in the church, it is being portrayed as specifically a U.S. problem and wondered if the pope had plans to publicly address this scandal in other countries. Father Lombardi said he did not know if the pope was planning to bring up the subject at, for example, World Youth Day in Australia... that it is up to the pope to decide, he said, and sometimes the Holy Father gives a week's notice about what he will discuss.

-- Regarding a recent story with the head of the Vatican Observatory that hypothesized how a discovery of intelligent life somewhere else in the universe could affect Christians here on Earth, Father Lombardi said it is important to remember that the conversation was a hypothesis and not stating fact. "We cannot know for sure if there are other intelligent beings in the universe, but research shows many systems with planets," Father Lombardi explained. "In the universe there are millions of situations where life could exist. We cannot say we are totally sure that life -- and intelligent life -- exists (elsewhere). It's very theoretical." Father Lombardi said he set up the original interview with Jesuit Father Jose Funes to do a general feature on the observatory and the question of extraterrestrial life came up. Father Lombardi also used this opportunity to reitterate Pope Benedict XVI's appreciation of the role science plays in the church. "The pope is aware of the importance of science. It is not to be a closed system; it is to be open to spiritual realities," Father Lombardi said.

-- He was also asked about how journalists should talk about stories related to homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Father Lombardi did not delve into those issues directly but said that Catholic journalists are to let readers know that the Church does what it does and says what it says for "the well-being of humanity." One interesting note was when he said that society preaches about unbridled freedom "but I see so many young people unhappy (with this)." He said this should not be seen as a war but that the church seeks the good of families and children.