Pope Benedict XVI concluded his apostolic journey to the United States this evening, departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport aboard Shepherd One at approximately 8:45 p.m. (EDT).
Pope Benedict arrived at the airport by helicopter. More than three thousand people were in attendance to bid farewell to the Holy Father. While waiting for the Holy Father to arrive, the people participated in a program of prayer and music produced by the Diocese of Brooklyn. .
Many dignitaries attended the departure ceremony, including Cardinal Edward M. Egan (Archbishop of New York), Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio (Bishop of Brooklyn), Bishop William F. Murphy (Bishop of Rockville Centre), Archbishop Pietro Sambi (Apostolic Nuncio to the United States), and Archbishop Celestino Migliore (the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations). Vice President Dick Cheney,a long with his wife, represented President Bush. Other representatives from state and local government took part in the departure ceremony as well, including President and Senator Clinton.
Vice President Cheney thanked the Holy Father for his visit. He said that, though the nation faces many challenges, it has innumerable blessings. He assured the Holy Father that he will always be welcome in the United States. He thanked him for his message of hope and salvation. He bid him a safe journey and asked him to pray for the United States.
Pope Benedict gave a brief address thanking U.S. Catholics for their hospitality and for their witness of faith and devotion. He thanked all those responsible for planning the visit. The Holy Father concluded his visit with these words: “I ask you to remember me in your prayers, and I assure you of my affection and friendship in the Lord. May God bless America!” The people responded with a standing ovation. .
Several children, accompanied by Bishop DiMarzio, gave the Holy Father bouquets of flowers.
Pope Benedict is scheduled to arrive in Rome late Monday morning. May God grant him a safe journey.
Archive for April 20th, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI Departs from the United States
Posted in General on April 20, 2008 | 14 Comments »
Mass at Yankee Stadium
Posted in General on April 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Eucharistic Liturgy in Yankee Stadium this afternoon.
Approximately 57,000 people attended the liturgy. The Mass was preceded by a two- hour Concert of Hope, featuring Harry Connick, Jr., Jose Feliciano, Stephanie Mills, Dana, Linera, Ronan Tynan, Marcello Giordani, and area choirs.
The Mass was that for the Fifth Week of Easter and it celebrated the bicentennial of the establishment of the Dioceses of Boston, Louisville (formerly Bardstown), New York, and Philadelphia and the elevation of Baltimore to the first Archdiocese of the United States.
The Holy Father arrived at about 2:15 p.m. and traveled around the stadium in the Popemobile to a great ovation.
Cardinal Edward Egan welcomed the Holy Father to New York. He noted the diocesan anniversaries celebrated in this liturgy. The people punctuated the welcome with many ovations. The Holy Father gave Cardinal Egan a gold vestment as a remembrance of the visit.
The readings were Acts 6:1-7 (read in English), 1 Peter 2:4-9 (read in Spanish), and John 14:1-12 (chanted in English). The Responsorial Psalm was Psalm 33.
Pope Benedict XVI began his homily by noting that the celebration of these anniversaries is a testimony to the growth of the Church in the United States of America. While this growth has not been without its challenges, the Church remains united in the Word of God authentically proclaimed by the Apostles. While words like “authority” and “obedience” are often difficult to hear in contemporary society, believers know that true freedom comes only from self-surrender in love. True freedom is the fruit of conversion.
The Holy Father encouraged the faithful to dedicate their lives in service to God’s kingdom. He called them to “to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations.” Service of the kingdom of God “means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life.”
Pope Benedict gave special encouragement to young people to have the courage to take responsibility for their faith and to proclaim Christ. He called all to renewed zeal in spreading God’s kingdom.
The Holy Father then gave a brief summary of his homily in Spanish.
After the people professed their faith by singing the Credo in Latin, the intercessions of the Prayers of the Faithful were announced in English, Italian, Polish, French, Tagalog, Croatian, and Igbo.
The gifts were presented by several married couples as well as other representatives of the lay faithful.
The Holy Father prayed Eucharistic Prayer I. Cardinal Egan (Archbishop of New York), Cardinal Bertone (Vatican Secretary of State), Cardinal George (Archbishop of Chcago and USCCB President), and Cardinal Rigali (Archbishop of Philiadelphia) prayed parts of the Eucharistic Prayer.
Holy Communion was distributed by the Holy Father and 530 priests and deacons. During the Communion procession, Marcello Giordani or the Metropolitan Opera sang “Panis Angelicus.”
During the final blessing, the Holy Father blessed religious articles brought by the faithful as well as cornerstone for the bicentennial garden of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and a crucifix for the chapel of Saint John Neumann Seminary residence.>.”
As Pope Benedict left the stadium, he greeted many people individually. The people responded with an enormous ovation.
The text of the Holy Father’s homily is posted here.
Pope Benedict XVI Visits Ground Zero
Posted in General on April 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
This morning, Pope Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center, destroyed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Holy Father approached the site in the Popemobile and went to the base of the site on foot, accompanied by Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York. Guests included the Mayor of New York and the Governors of New York and New Jersey.
Pope Benedict prayed silently for a period, then lit a candle brought to him by a Port Authority worker.
The Holy Father then offered words of prayer. Following the prayer, he blessed the ground in all four directions and then blessed those gathered.
Pope Benedict then personally greeted some family members of persons who died on September 11, survivors, and first responders, spending time in conversation with each person.
The text of the Holy Father’s prayer is posted here.
