WELLINGTON The ad limina visit of New Zealands Catholic bishops to see the Pope and Vatican officials has been put back to 2010, NZ Catholic understands. Diocesan bishops are required to make such a visit every five years to render an account of their dioceses to the Pope and to visit the tombs of the apostles in Rome.
New Zealands bishops last made an ad limina visit in September 2004. Due to Pope John Paul IIs failing health in 2005 and the election of Pope Benedict XVI, many episcopal conferences have seen their five-yearly schedule of visits disrupted.
The United States bishops, who also made their last ad limina visit in 2004, are among those whose subsequent visit has been delayed.
No date has yet been set for the New Zealand bishops ad limina visit, a Church spokeswoman said.
