Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope To Bless Ground Zero In NYC

Benedict To Also Conduct Sunday Mass At Yankee Stadium

WSB-TV
POSTED: 8:13 am EDT April 20, 2008

NEW YORK -- Pope Benedict XVI has reached out in compassion to beleaguered clergy, victims of clergy sex abuse and members of other religious groups during his first U.S. trip.

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On the final day of his journey, he turns his focus to the people of New York, in a prayer service Sunday at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Benedict has invited 24 people with ties to ground zero to join him: survivors, relatives of victims and four rescue workers. He will pray for peace, hope and healing, including for those who became ill after breathing toxic air in the ruins.

More than 2,700 people were killed in the terrorist strike.

"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world," the pope is expected to pray. "Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."

The site where the World Trade Center was destroyed is normally filled with hundreds of workers building a 102-story skyscraper, a memorial and transit hub. It bears little resemblance to the debris-filled pit where crews toiled to remove twisted steel and victims' remains.

Benedict will travel down a ramp now used mostly by construction trucks to a spot by the north tower's footprint. He will kneel in silent prayer and bless the ground with holy water, acknowledging the many faiths of the victims at the "scene of incredible violence and pain."

The remains of more than 1,100 people have never been identified.

Benedict will be joined by New York Cardinal Edward Egan and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. New York Gov. David Paterson and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine have also been invited. The land is owned and managed by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Later Sunday, the pope will celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium, before returning to Rome.

Pope Big Hit With Youth

On Saturday, Benedict received a hero's welcome at a youth rally in Yonkers, N.Y.

The festive crowd of 25,000 burst into wild cheers when Benedict first acknowledged them from the stage. The shy theologian took time to reach out and shake hands with the ecstatic faithful in the front rows. The youngsters, meanwhile, sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope, who turned 81 on Wednesday, in his native German.
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 8:46 AM