LISTENERS. I’M MIKE CLARK. TODAY IS PALM SUNDAY, WHICH MARKS THE START OF HOLY WEEK AHEAD OF EASTER SUNDAY. HERE IN PITTSBURGH, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS WOVEN INTO OUR CITY’S HISTORY. AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RELIGION IS, CATHOLICISM IS LIKELY IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY. TODAY, WE SIT DOWN WITH BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH TO DISCUSS THE PAST THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH. IN 2007, BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK BECAME THE CATHOLIC LEADER OF HIS HOMETOWN. POPE BENEDICT APPOINTED HIM THE 12TH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH. I RESOLVE TO SERVE FAITHFULLY THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THIS LOCAL CHURCH. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN THE FACE OF PASTORAL CARE THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND THROUGH HARDSHIP. I’M SAD, BUT, YOU KNOW, I’LL HAVE TO ASK. STILL GO TO CHURCH SOMEWHERE. I’LL FIND A CHURCH TO GO TO. A MAJOR REORGANIZATION PLAN. THIS NEW PARISH NAMES PART OF THE 2015 LAUNCH OF UN MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE. CHANGING WHAT THE DIOCESE LOOKS LIKE AND FIRING UP THE FAITHFUL. THEN IN 2018, A MOMENT OF RECKONING FOR THE CHURCH WITH THE GRAND JURY FOUND WAS A SYSTEMATIC COVER UP THAT WENT OVER A DECADES. THE GRAND JURY REPORT RELEASED REVEALING 301 PRIESTS OVER SEVEN DECADES ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN SIX PENNSYLVANIA DIOCESES, INCLUDING PITTSBURGH AND IN 2020. THE EVERYBODY’S WORKING REALLY HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THE CORONAVIRUS SENT PARISHIONERS FROM THE PEWS TO THEIR LIVING ROOMS. BUT THROUGH EVERY UP AND DOWN, BISHOP ZUBIK HAS REMAINED EAGER TO LEAD. I CAN REMEMBER HOW EXCITED I WAS THEN, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, QUITE HONESTLY, I’M EQUALLY EXCITED NOW. THIS MORNING, HE REFLECTS ON HIS TIME AS BISHOPS SO FAR AND HIS HOPES FOR WHAT’S AHEAD. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE BISHOP ZUBIK BECAME THE LEADER OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH. THIS MORNING WE ASKED HIM ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CHURCH AND THE WORK TO BE DONE. I’M JOINED NOW BY BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH. BISHOP ZUBIK, TO BEGIN WITH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US TODAY AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. MAKE IT AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKING AT YOU, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE ANNOUNCED AS THE 12TH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH, I BELIEVE IT WAS 27. YOU CAME INTO OUR STUDIO AND WE TALKED THAT DAY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE UNION, IF YOU WILL, OF THE PITTSBURGH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. SO I REMEMBER VIVIDLY BEING ON THE 11:00 NEWS, AND I CAN REMEMBER HOW EXCITED I WAS THEN. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, QUITE HONESTLY, I’M EQUALLY EXCITED NOW. THERE’S BEEN A LOT THAT’S HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 16 YEARS. WHEN I GOT THE CALL ON JULY THE NINTH OF 27 THAT I WAS BEING APPOINTED BACK TO PITTSBURGH, I REMEMBER SAYING TO THE NUNCIO, THE POPE’S AMBASSADOR, HOW HONORED I WAS. HE SAID, HONORED YOU MAY BE, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. AND THAT BECAME PRETTY EVIDENT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT’S ON MY MIND IS HOW TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO HEAVEN. AND FOR US AS THE CHURCH OF PITTSBURGH, THAT REALLY MEANS HELPING PEOPLE TO COME TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO MEAN. AND WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAD. AND IT BECAME PRETTY CLEAR THAT EVEN ON THE FOUNDATIONAL LEVEL, A LOT HAD TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND IN ORDER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, THAT MEANT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME PRETTY TOUGH DECISIONS. AND SO THAT’S WHY WE ESTABLISHED THE UN MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE IN I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT I WAS INSTALLED. YOU KNOW, I CHALLENGE PEOPLE AND SAID, ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FAITH? AND THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT OUR FAITH POINTS TO JESUS. AND SO WE REALLY BEGAN TO DO OUR WORK ON MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE. WE’VE BEEN WORKING AT THAT FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I DON’T THINK THAT MY VIEW IS JADED, WHAT I SEE AS I GO AROUND OUR DIOCESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE CLOSELY UNITED WITH EACH OTHER. THEY’VE HAD TO WORK HARD WITH JOINING COMMUNITIES AND UNDER A NEW UMBRELLA. BUT WITH THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF SAYING, WE’VE GOT TO DO THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO COME TO KNOW JESUS BETTER. AND SO WE’RE ALMOST COMING TO AN END WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE UNION OF OUR OF OUR PARISHES. AND NOW, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALL UP OUR SLEEVES TO DO EVANGELIZATION. EVANGELIZATION IS THE VERY THING THAT JESUS ASKED IS ASKED AS APOSTLES AND EARLY DISCIPLES TO DO. YOU GO OUT AND TELL THEM THE GOOD NEWS. AND WE’VE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND TELL THE GOOD NEWS. ALL OF US, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CLUELESS ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS OF WHO JESUS REALLY IS. AND WE’RE CALLING THIS OUR EVANGEL IZATION FOCUS. WE’VE ALREADY BEGUN TO DO THAT ON ASH WEDNESDAY BY ASKING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FAITHFUL, THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH, TO DO A SURVEY. THE DISCIPLE MAKER INDEX. AND IT’S AN HONEST SURVEY TO ASK PEOPLE WHERE THEY REALLY ARE WITH THE THINGS THAT EXCITE THEM ABOUT THE FAITH. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAYBE ANGER THEM ABOUT THE CHURCH? WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN REALLY HELP BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE LORD? AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE’VE ALSO ASKED ALL OF OUR CLERGY, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO TAKE A SURVEY SURVEY THAT’S CALLED CALL FOR MORE, DOING A SELFLESS ASSESSMENT TO SAY WHERE AM I NOW AND WHAT KIND OF A PERSONAL PLAN WILL I NEED TO PUT INTO PLACE TO BECOME A BETTER SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE? AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY OF OUR FAITHFUL PEOPLE IS HOW CAN EACH PARISH COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF HOW WE CAN ALL BECOME A BETTER CHURCH, WHICH MEANS HOW CAN WE BETTER BE THE BODY OF CHRIST? WHEN YOU HAVE THAT INVITATION FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR FAITH, ABOUT OUR ABOUT THE CHURCH, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE JADED AND SAY, I’M NOT GOING TO BOTHER FILLING OUT THAT SURVEY. THEY DON’T REALLY CARE. THEY DON’T REALLY LISTEN. SPECIFICALLY THOSE PEOPLE. WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR VOICES ACTUALLY BEING HEARD? WELL, I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN CONVINCE PEOPLE, BUT I WANT TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE WHAT’S IN PEOPLE’S HEARTS TO BE TOTALLY CANDID ABOUT WHAT’S THEIR. YOU KNOW, I, I THINK ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT I HAVE FELT EVER SINCE BECOMING A BISHOP IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY UP TO ME OR SAY, WELL, LET’S TELL HIM WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID ALL OF OUR MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME CHALLENGING DISCUSSIONS AND THERE IS SILENCE AROUND THE TABLE, I’D SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS FOR EVERYBODY TO LEAVE THIS ROOM AND GO OUT AND HAVE A PARKING LOT CONVERSATION. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IF WE’RE GOING TO HELP TO TRULY DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE THAT FURTHER FURTHERS THE DIVIDE. IF PEOPLE ARE QUIET AND THEN TALK ABOUT, OH GEEZ, WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY SHOULD BE DOING IS BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN’T. WE’VE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE WORLD, ABOUT THE CHURCH, ABOUT ME. AND I THINK IN ORDER FOR THIS THINGS TO BE EXPRESSED, THAT’S THE WAY THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH IT. STILL AHEAD THIS MORNING ON WTA LISTENS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE AN HONEST TO GOD, LOOK AT OURSELVES LEADING IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND THE OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES THE BISHOP HAS WORKED TO OVERCOME. WELCOME BACK TO W. T A LESSONS FROM THE CORONA VIRUS TO THE GRAND JURY REPORT ON CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE. BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK HAS DEALT WITH SEVERAL CRISES. THROUGH IT ALL, THE BISHOP TELLS ME. HIS MISSION TO LEAD HAS STAYED THE SAME. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CHALLENGES. IN ADDITION TO THE CONSOLIDATIONS, THE CHANGING OF PARISHES, THE GROUPINGS OF PARISHES. THERE’S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF STUMBLING BLOCKS WHEN WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE PANDEMIC, SHUTTING THINGS DOWN FOR A WHILE. YOU LOOKED AT THOSE AS OPPORTUNITY NEEDS TO GROW PEOPLE IN THEIR FAITH TO INVITE PEOPLE MORE TO COME BACK TO THE CHURCH BECAUSE THE SCREEN WAS THERE. 24 SEVEN. WHAT ARE THE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU STILL FACE? BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS YOU’VE SEEN OF PEOPLE COMING BACK TO THE CHURCH? THE FIRST I’VE GOT TO SAY THAT MAKING THE DECISION ABOUT HAVING TO CLOSE OUR CHURCHES WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENT IN MY LIFE. CERTAINLY AS A MAN, BUT CERTAINLY AS A BISHOP. AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER THAT SATURDAY IN MARCH OF 2020, WHEN WE WERE TAKING A LOOK AT THE CONCERNS OF SO MANY PEOPLE AND THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT ABOUT COVID. AND I REMEMBER BEING ON A CONFERENCE CALL WITH WITH MY STAFF FOR 12 HOURS BEFORE I CAME TO MAKE THE DECISION. AND I THINK THAT THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT ALL WAS THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HELP PROTECT PEOPLE WE DIDN’T KNOW OR WHO WERE. THIS WAS ALL GOING. IT’S CERTAINLY WAS NOT AN INSENSITIVITY TO TWO PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SOCCER PERMITS, BUT IT WAS A CONCERN ABOUT THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH. BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE FOUND, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME GOOD PROVISIONS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE LORD, LIVE STREAMING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE LIVESTREAMING THAT THAT THAT WE DID FROM THE SEMINARY CHAPEL WHERE I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE OF THE NEGATIVE SIDES OF IT IS THAT THAT IS IS PROVIDE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WELL, I DON’T NEED TO GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE. I CAN CONNECT BY WAY OF, OF OF OF OF OF LIVESTREAM ON TELEVISION. BUT I THINK THERE’S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT FOLKS MISSED DURING THAT TIME. NOW COULD STILL WITH THEIR APPETITE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAME BACK TO CHURCH. WE’RE DEALING RIGHT NOW WITH THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST AND THE EUCHARIST FOR US AS CATHOLICS, IS THE MOST INTIMATE EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN HAVE WITH GOD AND TO SEE MASS ON TV IS NOT THE SAME AS COMING TO IN FACT RECEIVE JESUS AND THE EUCHARIST. AND SO OUR CHALLENGE IS TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT’S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH EVANGELIZATION TO HELP PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN, TO COME TO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. IT’S ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT JESUS. IT’S ANOTHER THING TO KNOW HIM. AND I THINK TO KNOW HIM IS REALLY TO YOU KNOW, TO REALLY BE BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND TO RECEIVE HIM AS HE WANTS TO GIVE HIMSELF TO US. YOU MENTIONED ON MISSION FOR THE CHURCH, A LOT OF THIS IS COMING TO THE FINAL PHASE AFTER A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY SO MANY PEOPLE IN PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESES OF PITTSBURGH. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THIS FINAL PHASE? SOME PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED THE LAST TEN YEARS AS, YOU KNOW, PREPARING THE LAND AND PLANTING THE SEEDS TO SEE BEAUTIFUL THINGS GROW. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THIS FINAL PHASE? I THINK IT’S HELPING PEOPLE TO REALIZE EXACTLY WHY DID WE DO WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE DID RELATIVE TO OUR MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE. I’VE SAID IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I SAID IT AT THE BEGINNING OF US MOVING FORWARD ON THAT AND INITIATIVE. I SAID IT DURING THE COURSE OF IT, BUT I THINK NOW IT’S COMING TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE THIS IS REALLY WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. YOU KNOW, TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE TO COME TO KNOW NO CHRIST IN A FAR DEEPER WAY. I KNOW THE GRAND JURY REPORT WAS A VERY PAINFUL TIME FOR THE CHURCH. PAINFUL TIME FOR PARISHIONERS. LOOKING BACK AT THAT TIME AND NOW IN 2023, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD AS A CHURCH? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE AN HONEST TO GOD, LOOK AT OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE VIRTUES THAT ARE THERE. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO SEE THE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST. AND ESPECIALLY THE WAY THAT THERE’S MISSED TAKES CAN IMPACT THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE HEALING PRESENCE OF JESUS HAS TO BE WORKING IN AND THROUGH US. YOU KNOW, SO THERE CAN NEVER BE A TIME WHEN WHEN I’M NOT SORRY FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE HURT BY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH AND THAT I CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED AND AS WE HAVE TO BE AS A CHURCH, TO REALLY WORK TOWARDS HEALING IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES. SO MANY PITTSBURGH PEOPLE RELY ON THIS OFFICE, THE BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH, TO OFFER COUNSEL ATION, OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT IN TIMES OF NEED. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE, NOT ONLY IN PITTSBURGH, BUT REALLY AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE BEEN? IF YOU GIVE ME SOME DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE CHURCH IS REALLY ON THE ON THE GROUND, ON THE YOU KNOW, ON THE FRONT LINES OF HELPING PEOPLE TO HEAL IN TIMES OF CRISIS. I THINK IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY, YOU KNOW, THE FAITH OF OUR DIOCESE ARE A REMARKABLE THE WAY THEY STEP UP TO THE PLATE, TO BE WITH PEOPLE IN THEIR SUFFERING. YOU KNOW, WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN BY WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE UKRAINE. YOU KNOW, AND WE REACHED OUT TO, YOU KNOW, TO OUR FAITHFUL TO ASK FOR YOU KNOW, FOR FOR SOME FINANCIAL HELP, TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I THINK THAT’S A TANGIBLE, VISIBLE SIGN OF WHAT OF WHAT OUR PEOPLE ARE ALL ABOUT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE FAITHFUL CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE PRESENT. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT A PAINFUL FUNERAL FOR ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WAS KILLED. AND TO SEE THE OUTPOURING OF FOLKS THERE TO BE WITH THAT OFFICER’S FAMILY, BUT TO BE THERE IN SUPPORT OF THE OF THE POLICE AS THEY WERE MOURNING THE LOSS. I THINK THAT THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT STEPS OF HOW PEOPLE WANT TO HELP, TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF THE WORLD AS WE’RE TRAGICALLY SEE IT HAPPEN. STILL AHEAD, A MESSAGE OF MERCY. YOU KNOW, ALWAYS GIVING PEOPLE THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FOURTH THOUSANDTH CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO TO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. HOW HE SAYS WE CAN ALL BETTER NAVIGATE THIS WORLD. WE LIVE IN. WELCOME BACK TO W TO E LISTENERS. THIS HOLY WEEK. WE ASKED BISHOP ZUBIK WHAT HIS MESSAGE IS TO THE PEOPLE OF PITTSBURGH. WHETHER YOU’RE CATHOLIC, JEWISH, MUSLIM, AGNOSTIC, WHATEVER YOUR FAITH TRADITION IS. HIS WORDS CAN RESONATE WITH ALL OF US. I HEARD A PRIEST ONCE SPEAK AND HE SAID, I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE A QUESTION. IF YOU WERE ON TRIAL FOR LOVING MY NEIGHBOR, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT YOU WERE CONVICTED? AND I THOUGHT OF YOU WHEN HE SAID THAT. I THOUGHT BISHOP ZUBIK COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS HOMILY, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO, NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS, ASK PEOPLE TO ASK THAT QUESTION OF THEMSELVES, HOW CAN I BE A BETTER NEIGHBOR TO PEOPLE LIVING NEXT DOOR, PEOPLE WITH MAYBE OTHER THOUGHTS AND OTHER BELIEFS, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, MAYBE IN AN ECUMENICAL WAY? AND WHEN I THINK OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, FOR INSTANCE, THE NEW COMPASSION CORNER THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT, THAT’S AN INVITATION TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAITH. ON THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY AS CHRISTIANS PREPARE FOR EASTER SUNDAY. WHAT’S THE MESSAGE YOU HAVE FOR NOT ONLY CHRISTIANS, BUT PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS? OR MAYBE SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE A PARTICULAR FAITH TO COME TOGETHER TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR? YEAH, I THINK THERE’LL BE A LOT OF A LOT OF FOCUS DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK. HOLY WEEK, ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF JESUS THAT LED TO HIS, YOU KNOW, STRETCHING OUT HIS ARMS ON THE CROSS AND THEN RISING FROM THE TOMB. BUT BUT IT’S IT’S AN INVITATION FOR US AS CHRISTIANS AND I THINK IT BECOMES AN EXPRESSION OF INVITATION TO PEOPLE OF OTHER FACE TO, SAY, BOILING THIS DOWN. WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? IT MEANS THAT WE’RE CALLED TO LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER LIFE BEYOND. BUT IT’S ALSO A CALL THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS LIFE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR FAMILIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WORKPLACES, CERTAINLY IN OUR CITIES, AND OBVIOUSLY, HOPEFULLY FOR THE WORLD AS WELL, TOO. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH, LOOKING BACK AT YOUR PRIESTHOOD, SINCE YOU’VE BEEN NAMED A BISHOP 26 YEARS AGO BY POPE JOHN PAUL, THE SECOND, YOU’VE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY WORK WITH POPE JOHN PAUL, THE SECOND, BUT ALSO POPE BENEDICT THE 16TH, AND NOW POPE FRANCIS. THREE MEN WITH DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DIFFERENT MAYBE PERSONALITIES. BUT WHAT’S THE THE COMMON THEME FROM ALL THREE OF THE POPES SINCE YOU’VE BEEN BISHOP? AND HOW DO THEY EACH INFLUENCE YOU MOVING FORWARD HERE IN PITTSBURGH? WELL, I THINK I WOULD HAVE PUT THOSE THREE WORDS THAT WE THAT WE’VE BEEN PRAYING SO MUCH FOR OUR MISSION TO TO LEARN JESUS, TO LOVE JESUS, TO LOVE JESUS. YOU’RE RIGHT, JOHN PAUL. THE SECOND WAS, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A PHILOSOPHER FOR BETTER WAS A THEOLOGIAN. FRANCIS IS A PASTOR, BUT IN EACH OF THEIR OWN WAYS, THE GIFTS THAT GOD GAVE THEM AND GAVE THEM THE CHANCE TO LEAVE THE CHURCH AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN HISTORY. THE BOTTOM LINE OF IT ALL IS THE SAME THING LEARN LOVE AND LIVE AND LIVE LOVE. JESUS. WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE NOT TAKEN LENT SERIOUSLY THIS THIS YEAR? MAYBE DIDN’T EVEN GIVE IT A THOUGHT, BUT WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHT AS YOU MOVE INTO THE END OF THE LENTEN SEASON? I THINK ONE OF THE THE BEAUTIFUL TEACHINGS OF POPE FRANCIS AND HE HAS SO MANY BEAUTIFUL TEACHINGS IS BEAT YOURSELF UP ON WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THE PAST. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRESENT MOMENT AND TRY TRY TO DO YOUR BEST AND TRY TO DO IT BECAUSE NOT BECAUSE IT’S SO MUCH THE GOOD HUMAN THING TO DO, BUT IT’S THE MOST CHRISTLIKE THING TO DO. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I BEGAN THIS SEASON OF OF OF LENT SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT HAS TO REMAIN FOCUSED MAINLY MAIN FOCUS FOR US IS TO DIE TO ANYTHING IN US THAT GOD DIDN’T PLACE THERE. SO WE ALL BELIEVE THAT GOD’S CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SEASON OF LENT LETS US KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO EVERY DAY, GET RID OF ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT GOD DIDN’T PLACE IN US. THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE GOD. AND THAT TAKES A LIFETIME TO DO IT. THERE’S LOTS OF UPS AND LOTS OF DOWNS, BUT TEACHABLE MOMENTS IN LENT. WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOU KNOW, AS WE PUT A WRAP ON THIS, THE SEASON MOVING TOWARD EASTER SUNDAY? WHAT’S THE TEACHING LESSON? DO YOU THINK? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT IF YOU COULD. YEAH, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHING LESSON, YOU KNOW, IF WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE END UP THIS HOLY WEEK AND THE GOAL OF ALL OF LENT IS TO DEEPLY, DEEPLY, DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICIAL LOVE OF JESUS, BECAUSE IN THE END IT SPELLS ONE WORD, WHICH IS MERCY. AND UNFORTUNATELY. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THAT WE TURN ON ACTION NEWS OR LOOK ON OUR CELL PHONES AT, YOU KNOW, THE POST-GAZETTE OR THE TRIBUNE REVIEW, THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES THAT SPEAK ABOUT PEOPLE BEING VIOLENT AGAINST EACH OTHER, UNFORGIVING AGAINST EACH OTHER. AND YET THE MISSION THAT WE’RE ABOUT HAS TO BE MERCY. YOU KNOW, ALWAYS GIVING PEOPLE THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FOURTH, 1,000TH CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO TO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. THAT’S THE MESSAGE OF JESUS. YOU KNOW, NOT TO CONDEMN AT THE SAME TIME, NOT LOOKING THE OTHER WAY IN TERMS OF WHAT WRONG WE COULD DO, BUT ALWAYS SINCERELY MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE INSTRUMENTS OF MERCY. THAT’S WHAT THAT’S WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT. THAT’S WHAT JESUS DID ON GOOD FRIDAY. AND HE SEALED, SEALED IT WHEN HE WHEN HE CAME THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN ON EASTER MORNING. WELL, AS WE WRAP UP OUR CONVERSATION WITH YOU, SO MANY TIMES YOU OFFER BLESSINGS TO PEOPLE, DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE. I WONDER NOW IF YOU COULD GIVE GIVE US A BLESSING FOR THE VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING US RIGHT NOW. YEAH, MY OTHER FAVORITE, FAVORITE BLESSING, MAY THE LORD SO CONTINUE TO FIRE UP YOUR SOUL SO THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE MAY COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH YOU. AMEN. YOU’RE WATCHING W TO E LISTENERS. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE LISTENERS. WHETHER YOU LIVE IN ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S NEIGHBORHOODS OR ANY SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, TELL US WHAT’S WRONG AND WHAT’S RIGHT SO WE CAN LISTEN. YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL, WTAE LISTENERS, AT FIRST SECONDS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.