Video & Recap: Internationally-known panelists on the pope's visit

As I mentioned last week, on Friday I attended an event put on by the good people at Crossroads which assembled an internationally-known panel of experts to discuss the pope's visit.

The event entitled "Only something infinite will sufice" was held at the John Paul II Cultural Center, which is where Pope Benedict will be holding his ecumenical dialogue on Thursday, April 17th.

Speakers from this evening included:

• His Eminince Pietro SAMBI Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the U.S.
• John L. ALLEN, Jr. NCR Senior Correspondent, CNN Senior Vatican Analyst
• David SCHINDLER Dean of John Paul II Institute, Editor of Communio
• Monsignor Lorenzo ALBACETE Theologian, Author, Columnist
• ... and a surprise appearance by EWTN's Raymond Arroyo

Here is a picture of the panel:

(from R-L: Albacete, Sambi, Schindler, Allen - if you can't read the placards)

And for any die-hard Arroyo groupies:

Crossroads has released video with highlights from the evening:

And here is a short video I took of John Allen and the presentors (apologies for the vertical orientation at the very beginning of the video - don't get neck strain!):

You can see Abp. Sambi listening very attentively.

John Allen at the podium:

My brief reactions to the presentations:

• Monsignor Albacete's wit and deep knowledge were evident from his participation. He's a joy.
• Abp. Sambi's presentation helped identify the pope's priorities for his visit. He singled out the phrases Conversi Ad Dominum (turn towards the Lord!) and Sursom Corda (Lift up your heart!) as being integral to the message he wishes to bring to the United States.
• Allen provided inside and exhaustive knowledge of what a papal trip entails in general, and what this one will in particular. Besides some amusing personal antedotes, he stuck fairly close to the material he has published on his weekly web column. It was nice to meet him.
• Schindler provided the theological heft of the evening, and provided thought-provoking points.

Abp. Sambi was somewhat surreptitiously taken away before the Q&A session in order to appear on EWTN, which will be broadcasting from the John Paul II Cultural Center throughout the pope's visit.

And there you have it. More inside scoops to follow!