I think he came to this country from Europe with its empty cathedrals to marvel at the miracle of the United States --the most modern and the most religious country in the world. The intellectuals have told us for two centuries that as modernity advances, religion will recede. In the most modern nation of all, religion is waxing.
Update: Hugh Hewitt summarizes the trip quite well, I think:
Rarely does an entire country get a week-long tutorial on its blessings and its duties. Benedict XVI gave such a seminar, and we are all the better for it.Update 2: A Rich Lowry reflection on Benedict & America, with Fr. Z's comments and annotations.
