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.
Pope Benedict XVI Departs from the United States
April 20, 2008 by usccbdigitalmedia
I gotta be honest, I’m a little sad to see him leave. Time to delve into Jesus of Nazareth.
This has truly been a blessed time for citizens of the USA! Many thanks to all responsible for planning this trip. God bless Pope Benedict XVI.
By the grace of God I am Catholic.
THANK YOU HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR VISITING GROUND ZERO, I COULD SEE YOUR DEEP MEDITATION, I PRAY IT WILL GIVE COMFORT TO ALL THE FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.
OUR PRAYERS FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN TO ROME. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY YOU HAVE A LONG VICARSHIP. WE NEED YOU, AND ALL NATIONS TO BRING THE END OF TERROR!!!
PAX TECUM
PEACE BE WITH YOU.
A SERVANT OF MARY.
How inspiring that our Holy Father visited us. Let us all rejoice in our Catholic faith with renewed hope and sense of purpose!
I feel sad to see the Holy Father leave us, too, but in faith, I know that he does remain with us in prayer especially through the Eucharist. Now the task remains for us to take up the challenges he presented to us during this past week. May we remain encouraged by Christ our Hope to renew the face of the earth beginning with the life of the Church here in the United States by our authentic Gospel living and commitment to the love of Christ.
The Holy Father’s visit was a wonderful experience-even for those of us who saw him only via your website. Many thanks to the USCCB for the web coverage. Great job!!
I totally agree. I watched that plane take off and I felt so sad. He really is a very nice man… Maybe I can put in practice what he said and try being nicer to people and in that small way, make a difference…
Sad? Definitely time to pull out the Kleenex. What a beacon of hope Papa Benedetto is.
It is almost like I am going to lose my new best friend. I am utterly amazed at this man. I feel truly blessed by his presence
and humbled by his calm. His images here in the United States this week will last in my being to the day I am judged by God.
what a great time to live in
my mom and I wish he could have stayed longer
but wish him all the best and everyone with him
a safe journey home
I know i have been a major blog hog since the USCCB started this blog, but i am literally in tears…missing our Holy Father and hoping he is getting a better night’s sleep than i am!
I said this before…and i will say it again….if i live to be 1000 years old, i will never be as moved as i was when i witnessed the Consecration of the Holy Eucharist by the Vicar of Christ. i will never ever forget my experience.
Holy Father come back soon!
I was also sad when I saw him leaving, but above and beyond this was such a great spiritual experience. May God bless him!!
Also many thanks to all the individuals at USCCB who made these live transmissions. I did not have the chance to attend any of the masses or other events, but thanks to the web, I did not miss anything. Thank you very much!
Thank you Holy Father, thank you!!!!!!
Thank you USCCB for making this website available with all the great quality web-videos.
I miss the Pope and cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.