Exclusive: Cardinal Egan on Rudy Giuliani

In light of Rudy Giuliani receiving the Eucharist during the Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Archdiocese of New York released the following comment from Cardinal Edward Egan this morning. I received the statement from Joe Zwilling, director of communications for the archdiocese.

“ The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.”

-- Tim Drake

What Did You Take With You?

In the spirit of Amy Welborn, who often asks visitors to her blog to recount a particular Sunday Mass with the question "What did you hear?" or "What did you see?" I'd like to ask readers, "What did you take with you" from the Pope's visit?

Lots of people took home souvenirs, photos, memories from the Masses or other events they attended (or watched on TV). But what did you take with you from Benedict's words or actions that are likely to stay with you for  life, and why? What will have a lasting impact, and why?

I ask this because once the excitement of the visit subsides, once the thrill of having a Pope on American soil is forgotten, I wonder what will have a lasting impact on our Church and our society.

Personally speaking, I was struck by a moment during the Pope's address at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y. Speaking to some 25,000 young people, Benedict asked for their prayers and said, in a rather soft voice, "because, as you know, I just had another birthday, and time is passing." 

Was it fear of death that showed through this 81-year-old's words? It's a normal emotion, though not one you'd typically find at the forefront of a teen's mind or a 20-something's concerns.

Then again, who says the motivation for Benedict's plea was fear? Death is an inevitability. For the Christian, it's how we face it that matters. Benedict knows this well. As do all priests and religious, and many lay people, he prayers the Liturgy of the Hours and at the end of Night Prayer, before going to bed, he prayers, "May the merciful Lord grant us a peaceful night and a holy death."

We have to do all we can to be well-prepared for death. But the prayers of others for a holy death, Benedict knows, are important as well.

--John Burger

In Case You Missed It - Kelly Clarkson's "Ave Maria"

For those who weren't able to be there in person, here's Kelly Clarkson's version of the "Ave Maria."

Exclusive video

Henry Artis, part of a Communion and Liberation delegation that got to meet Pope Benedict Saturday evening outside his temporary residence, sent me this video, that he shot on his cell phone. He also provided me with a transcript:
"I give you my blessing, thank you for what you are doing, in prayer we are always united, thank you for all you doing for the Church, for the world, God bless you always" – and then he gave us his blessing.

The Moment

There were many highlights during the Pope's six-day trip, but none more poignant than this one for me - the Vicar of Christ holding up the Body of Christ, surrounded by the Church in all her glory and splendor - cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, consecrated and the laity. The most touching moment for me was receiving Christ in the Eucharist. At the very moment that I walked over to receive the Body of Christ, the orchestra and choir began singing "This is the Feast of Victory for Our God," a Lutheran hymn that we always used to sing during or after Communion. Tears filled my eyes. It was a indescribable moment for me - a Lutheran-turned-Catholic who was now hearing the Lutheran hymn of my youth as a Catholic, at the very moment that I was taking the Eucharistic Christ into my own body. It was as if I had somehow come full circle and the Holy Spirit was confirming me in my faith. It made all the struggles and trials and persecutions of the past 13 years fade away. The coincidence of the timing of it all was the kind of thing that could only have been orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

-- Tim Drake

Following Up on Friday Night's Vigil Outside Migliore's Residence

Henry Artis was helping to organize a prayer vigil at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on East 90th Street and a procession to the papal residence on East 72nd.

During the Holy Hour at the church, he got a call from one of the Sisters of Life, who were also involved in organizing the event: “There’s a possibility to see the Pope, but we have to go now.” He was able to invite three friends with him. The group traveled to the tent that was set up in front of the residence, and the Pope came out to greet them. “We thought he’d just say a few words and leave.” But he stayed and greeted each individual.

“I thanked him for being Pope,” said Artis, a convert, “and told him I’m a member of the Fraternity of St. Joseph,” which is the consecrated branch of Communion and Liberation. “He nodded his head and said “Great.” Pope Benedict is an admirer of CL and was a friend of its founder, Msgr. Luigi Giussani.

Artis, who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, noticed that the Pope “loves to be with people.”

“You feel like you’re the only one there because he gives you all his attention.”

-- John Burger

Pope Benedict's Little Gestures

Just before the Holy Father arrived in the hangar here at JFK, I asked New York archdiocesan spokesman Joe Zwilling for his impressions of the papal visit. Here's what he said:

"I had trepidations about the motorcade going along Fifth Avenue. New York can be a little jaded. But there were people lined up five or six deep," he said with a beaming grin. "And at the seminary yesterday! Twenty-five thousand young people singing and chanting."

I mentioned how some people might have thought Pope Benedict wouldn't have the mass appeal that JPII had, and that perhaps the big suprise of the trip was how well received he was.

"He doesn't have that big gesture," Zwilling agreed. "It's the little gesture. Seeing him go from child to child in the chapel at St. Joseph's Seminary, that close intimate contact... Learning from them...It was captured so well. People responded to that. If he had gone for the big gesture, which is not him, it would have fallen flat. People were moved by that, even non-Catholics."

-- John Burger

At the Farewell Ceremony

Here's the text of the Pope's Farewell Address, from the USCCB.

Mr. Vice-President,
Distinguished Civil Authorities,
My Brother Bishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The time has come for me to bid farewell to your country. These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome. It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here. It was heart-warming to spend time with leaders and representatives of other Christian communities and other religions, and I renew my assurances of respect and esteem to all of you. I am grateful to President Bush for kindly coming to greet me at the start of my visit, and I thank Vice-President Cheney for his presence here as I depart. The civic authorities, workers and volunteers in Washington and New York have given generously of their time and resources in order to ensure the smooth progress of my visit at every stage, and for this I express my profound thanks and appreciation to Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York.

Once again I offer prayerful good wishes to the representatives of the see of Baltimore, the first Archdiocese, and those of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, in this jubilee year. May the Lord continue to bless you in the years ahead. To all my Brother Bishops, to Bishop DiMarzio of this Diocese of Brooklyn, and to the officers and staff of the Episcopal Conference who have contributed in so many ways to the preparation of this visit, I extend my renewed gratitude for their hard work and dedication. With great affection I greet once more the priests and religious, the deacons, the seminarians and young people, and all the faithful in the United States, and I encourage you to continue bearing joyful witness to Christ our Hope, our Risen Lord and Savior, who makes all things new and gives us life in abundance.

One of the high-points of my visit was the opportunity to address the General Assembly of the United Nations, and I thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his kind invitation and welcome. Looking back over the sixty years that have passed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I give thanks for all that the Organization has been able to achieve in defending and promoting the fundamental rights of every man, woman and child throughout the world, and I encourage people of good will everywhere to continue working tirelessly to promote justice and peaceful co-existence between peoples and nations.

My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory, as I continue to pray for those who died and for all who suffer in consequence of the tragedy that occurred there in 2001. For all the people of America, and indeed throughout the world, I pray that the future will bring increased fraternity and solidarity, a growth in mutual respect, and a renewed trust and confidence in God, our heavenly Father.

With these words, I take my leave, 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 Colors of the Church

From where I was seated, in section 32 of Yankee Stadium's tier, I could easily spot large blocks of color in the stadium. Across the way, there was a large block of deep blue - New York's finest, who were present to help escort the priests to distribute Holy Communion.

To my left was a massive block of white - a group of religious sisters. Below me was a block with white plumes - the Knights of Columbus.

To my right was a very large block of black. I needed to find out who they were. So, I made my way over to them, introduced myself, and discovered that they were all seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. 160 strong.

Some words from the Pope's homily seemed directed at folks just such as these.

"I was moved with joy by the many young faces at Dunwoodie," said Pope Benedict. "They are the Church's future.... I urge you to open your hearts to the priesthood and religious life like Jesus Christ, who was willing to lay down his life for his friends."

-- Tim Drake

Who Will Be At the Pope's Departure?

Expect the major media to jump all over this. Among the proposed dignitaries who are expected to be on hand for the Pope's departure, will be both former President Bill Clinton and Hillary.

We had been told early on that a White House dignitary would give the departure remarks, but originally weren't told who that would be. It turns out it will be Vice President Dick Cheney. A number of New York auxiliary bishops, bishops and cardinals will also be on hand for the event at a hangar at JFK Airport.

The Individuals at Ground Zero

Here's a list of the 24 individuals who were present at the Pope's visit to Ground Zero. Over 1,000 people applied to be at the event.

Ernesto Butcher, John Carlson, Salvatore Cassano, Migdalia Colon, Kathleen Curatolo, Helga Curtin, Miguel Cruz, Mary Danahy, Monsignor Emmet Fagan, Christy Ferer, Desiree Gerasimovich, Laura Grygotis, Paul Hargrove, Eileen Hoey, Dymphna Jessicks, Joseph Kelly, Linda Litto, Eileen Lugano, Julie Malik, Rose Mazza, John McLoughlin, Jean Palombo, Thomas Riches, James Smith

"We Love You Benedict"

I'm just back from Yankee Stadium and will be blogging my observations, photos and interviews from the day. Among the most poignant was the following.

The Pope made his way into Yankee Stadium in the Popemobile, with the faithful cheering and waving the gold or white handkerchiefs that they were given when they entered the stadium. After the processional onto the stage, to "Tu es Petrus," the Holy Father took his place on the stage. All was quiet as the stadium prepared for Mass.

Then, in the quiet of that moment, a singular male voice shouted out, "We Love You Benedict!" It could be heard throughout the stadium. It was one voice, but the man who shouted it out was speaking for the entire stadium. The entire stadium erupted into loud applause in agreement.

That's the message I take from both yesterday and today.

-- Tim Drake

What's Next

Next, he'll go back into town for the papal residence. He won't be there long. At 7 he'll take a car to a heliport on Wall Street in New York.

At 7:20, he gets to the helicopter and 10 minutes later leaves for JFK by helicopter. In D.C., the cab drivers were very supportive of the Pope taking helicopter trips and not tying up traffic.

It will take him a half hour, even by helicopter, to get to JFK. There will be a farewell ceremony at JFK, but a brief one. Shepherd one takes off at 8:30 for Rome.

Pope Meets With More Disabled Kids

I just got off the phone with Patrick Lenz, director of major gifts for the Ronald McDonald House here in New York City. Thanks to New York’s Finest, who have been providing outstanding security for the Holy Father, several children and their families staying at the RM house were able to meet the Pope last night. It was the end of a very long day for the Holy Father, but he agreed to take half an hour and bless some kids being treated for various kinds of cancer at some of the best hospitals in the world, here in the Big Apple.

Officers at the 19th Precinct, where the RM House is located, volunteer to help the kids, so they’ve already had a relationship.

“We just finished an activity with the kids, when they came and said, 'If you want to see the pope, let’s go,'” Lenz said. Several of them went  with families. In the end, four large passenger vans full of kids and the families staying with them made the trip 10 blocks south and four blocks over to the west, to Archbisho Migliore’s residence on 72nd Street. “They got us through security quickly … He came out, walked one way, then the other, held some our children and blessed them.”

Babies were passed up to the front row, and the Pope blessed them. “You could see the twinkle in his eyes,” Lenz told me.

The residence, which the McDonald organization started with seed money, is a home away from home for kids and their families from all over the world who come here for treatment. Though celebrities often drop in to visit the kids, to Lenz’ knowledge, nothing like this has happened in Ronald McDonald House’s 30 years.

Though the agency is non-denominational, it provides religious services, and St. Monica’s, the local parish, arranges for Mass in the home every Thursday.

Saturday night’s meeting, which took place around 9, came at the end of a long day for Pope Benedict, what with the Mass in St. Patrick’s and the encounter with young people. But Lenz said the Pope didn’t seem tired. “He seemed even more energized,” said Lenz.

--John Burger

Ground Zero, Holy Ground

"Not long after I arrived, I found myself being drawn to the first body bag that I saw. As the body bag was opened and the remains were placed into a plastic bag, I realized that this piece of a person needed to be blessed — there was no one else doing this.

"I ended up standing there with a wonderful Jewish rabbi, and as each bag was opened, we would pray over the parts. I wanted people to know that we loved them, and that they would be blessed in the end. We would bless the parts as they were being gathered for the triage morgue and then being prepared to be taken to the full morgue. We often wondered what part of a person it was.

"The most memorable image, though, didn't happen at the site.

"That night, when I returned to the church, I had a ton of messages from a family at my old parish whose father and husband was missing. When I arrived at their home, all covered in dirt, their 7-year-old daughter, Taylor, whom I had given first Communion, asked, 'Father Geno, did you dig out my daddy?'

"It was something to see that little girl's hope that I had brought her daddy home. All I could do was just keep hugging her."

-- Father Geno Sylva, Register, Sept. 2001

"O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain.  We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light and peace to all who died here ... Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy. Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope."

-- Pope Benedict XVI at Ground Zero today.

-- Tom Hoopes

The Day's Events

I'm up early to catch the subway up to Yankee Stadium. I'll be there as a participant, not in the media pool. That means I won't have Internet access until late in the day. I'll post photos and stories from the Mass then. Pope Benedict XVI is first saying a prayer at Ground Zero, then its the Mass in the afternoon, and the departure from JFK this evening.

-- Tim Drake

Today's Schedule

According to the Vatican:

Sunday, 20 April 2008

9.10 Transfer by car from the Papal Residence to Ground Zero in New York   
9.30 Visit to Ground Zero in New York; Prayer of the Holy Father
10.00 Transfer by car from Ground Zero to the Papal Residence in New York   
13.50 Transfer by car from the Papal Residence to Yankee Stadium in New York   
2.30 Holy Mass at New York's Yankee Stadium Homily of the Holy Father 
4.45 Transfer by car from Yankee Stadium to the Papal Residence in New York   
7.00 Transfer by car from the Papal Residence to the heliport of Wall Street in New York   
7.20 Arrival at the heliport of Wall Street in New York   
7.30 Transfer by helicopter from the heliport of Wall Street to John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport of New York   
8.00 Arrival at John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Farewell ceremony at John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport of New York Address of the Holy Father
8.30 Departure by plane from John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport of New York for Rome

The Pope Mingles with People in N.Y.

There's a nice video link here to an ABC 7 spot on the Pope's mingling with New Yorkers on Friday evening.

'God Will Provide'

I met Cyndi Smith from Steubenville, Ohio, who had an amazing story to tell.

She’s here with her son, Paul, and her daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Both have a neuromuscular disease but weren’t part of the blessing of disabled children. They weren’t a part of anything. They just wanted to see the Pope.

“We just drove up from Ohio,” she said. “My mom gave me her credit card and said, ‘Here, put whatever you need on here.’”

Then, as they were getting ready to leave, the diocese called. They had an opportunity for Paul at one of the events, but no one else.

Then Paul’s teacher’s called and said, “Get to the rally and God will do the rest.”

And that’s what she did. As she was walking through all the security stops, she got to a point where a woman secret service agent demanded: “Let me see your tickets.”

“Ma’am we don’t have tickets,” said Cyndi. “Paul’s teacher said, ‘Get him here and God will provide.’”

The guard said, “Here you go,” and handed them four tickets.

Cyndi thanked the guard profusely. “Don’t thank me!” she said.

Paul was taken to the rally, and Cyndi had to walk Mary Elizabeth to a handicapped bathroom. The Sister Servants of Mary, ministers to the sick, saw her there and asked if she was part of the blessing of disabled youth event.

“I wish I were, but I don’t have tickets,” she said. They said, “Come with me.”

So they got up to the front gate outside the seminary, when Cyndi got a call from her son Paul. He was dehydrated. She had to leave her daughter with the sisters and get him. But then she wasn’t allowed back. She says, “No, my daughter is up there.”

She had to wait while they verified that with the sisters.

But she finally got back, in time to see Pope Benedict come. The family was now all together, outside the chapel, positioned right in front of him.

Paul had put a request into the Make a Wish foundation that he wanted to serve Mass for the Pope in Rome. He hasn’t done that, but Cyndi said her favorite thing was when the Pope stopped right in front of them and,  “Gave a blessing out the window. You don’t put that into words.”

-- Robyn Lee

Strength in 'Poorness'

I'm a little late blogging on the Mass at St. Patrick's earlier today. Better late than never? I hope so. Three quick observations.

1. One thing that struck me from the "press box" (okay, the folding chairs in front of a side altar with an obstructed view of the main altar) was the number of vociferous, almost rowdy, rounds of applause and cheers that went up for the Pope. After all, this was a cathedral full of priests and nuns. I didn't count, but the communicants must have communicated their love for the Holy Father at least a dozen times. One warm welcome for the entrance and another at the departure wouldn't have made me think twice. But the repetition of the roars did.

I wondered how Pope Benedict felt about the adulation. Not to mention the noise level. He's famously attentive to the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament wherever it's reserved, and famously insistent on reverence in (or just before, or just after) the liturgy. He's careful to make sure people understand that the celebrant isn't the star; Christ is. Even when the celebrant is Christ's vicar.

Well, guess what? He handled the development very deftly indeed. No, not deftly. Pastorally. At the close of Mass, in an apparently impromptu statement, he both warmly thanked his wowed and vowed "fans" -- and, with fatherly gentleness, reminded them whose shoes he wears.

In this moment I can only thank grace for your love of the Church, for the love of Our Lord and that you give your love also to the poor successor of St. Peter. I will do all that is possible to be a (worthy) successor of the great St. Peter, who also was a man with his faults and sins, but he remains finally the rock for the Church. And so also I, with all my poorness -- spiritual [poorness] -- can be, with the grace of the Lord in this time, the successor of Peter. And with your prayers, your love will give me the certainty that the Lord will help me in this, my ministry.

So I am so deeply thankful for your love, for your prayer, and my answer in this moment to all what you have given to me in this moment and this visit is my blessing at the end of the Holy Mass.

Amen, Holy Father. And Amen again.

Or, as the priests and nuns chanted while the Pope exited: BEN-E-DI-TO! BEN-E-DI-TO!

2. What a scene to step into after Mass, the hordes of humankind queued up behind police cordons for just a glimpse of this man of "spiritual poorness." It seemed the whole of Manhattan turned out to form one long, serpentine line. The view from inside the cordons = a sight I'll never forget. Anyway, I decided to get a few quick quotes from some young priests and religious walking along at about my pace. What, I wanted to know, did celebrating Mass with the Holy Father -- in English, in America -- mean to you?

"I've never  been to Rome but he brought Rome to us a little bit here in the United States," a young member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, Ind., told me. "This really, I'm sure, inspires a lot of people to follow the faith more closely and with greater fidelity. Seeing our Holy Father inspires us so much." Were the ovations a distraction from the sacrament at hand? "Well, having the whole Body of Christ here -- complete with our head, priests, religious, lay people -- everybody's here but we're all centered in Christ and in the Eucharist. I was thinking about that at Mass. Everyone was united spiritually in this spot right now but Christ is always here; we have him always. It's amazing, the fullness."

Father Sean Timmerman, ordained five years ago in the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., said the experience was "a tremendous opportunity, and just very special knowing that we could celebrate with the Holy Father. It's always nice to go to Rome but this was special, having him come to our home." (I got the sense Father Timmerman was a man of few words. His beaming comportment filled in the blanks.)

And a young priest from the Philippines who's in New York for studies put it like this: "When you are inside a church with the Pope, it's really an awesome experience. I cannot explain it. It's the mystery of God's presence in us. It's really wonderful to have this kind of experience in which each one of us is an instrument of God's love. Now we have to communicate that love to the world."

(BTW, the text of the Holy Father's memorable St. Pat's homily, from whose script he did not veer, is here.)

3. Remember the question I raised a few days ago about the "interior struggle" Catholic journalists sometimes experience when covering big Church events like papal Masses? The whole Am I here as a Catholic or as a journalist thing? Well, I now admit what a dumb question that was from the get-go. (Then, too, if you can't hash out a dumb question on a blog, where can you take it?) What settled the matter for me was recognizing, and introducing myself to, a writer I very much admire and respect, Peggy Noonan, before this Mass. I repeated the question and asked her -- klutzily, with an inappropriate specificity that probably alarmed the poor woman (D'oh! Guess I've gotten a little rusty on the ol' field-reporting skills) -- whether or not she would be receiving Communion. "Oh, absolutely," she said. "Absolutely."

Question closed. Promise.

-- David Pearson

Purchasing Sacramentals at St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral wasn't open to the public today until 4 p.m. I dropped by at 4:15 to witness an incredible flock of people streaming in and out of the Church. The pews were half filled with people taking pictures and gazing at the stained glass windows and the ceiling.

Crammed around the cathedral's tiny gift shop was a crowd of approximately 50 people, patiently waiting for the store to open. They were from all over. Some wanted to purchase items for their mother, others were looking for items for friends or family. Many waiting to buy sacramentals that they might have blessed at tomorrow's Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Among them was Angela Beirne, a Queens nurse originally from County Roscommon, Ireland. She was there to purchase some special candles for family and friends that she had heard that the store might have to commemorate the Pope's visit. She had come to the city with a friend to catch a view of the Pope as his motorcade made its way through the city after the Mass at St. Patrick's.

"We might as well," said Beirne. "He was in our back yard."

By the time Beirne made it to a spot along 54th Street she said that many Hispanic Catholics were in place, and had been in place since the "wee hours of the morning."

"They had chairs, blankets, food containers," said Beirne. "They were singing and chanting in Spanish. It was a very lively group ... even the NYPD. It was a very festive atmosphere."

"I've never waited so long for a pope," she added. "I waited two hours on the street to see the Pope, one hour to get into St. Patrick's, and an hour to get into the gift shop."

Of the Holy Father, Beirne said that he's not quite what she expected.

"I thought he'd be more reserved," said Beirne. "He looks energetic, happy. He's trying to connect with the people. John Paul II was a hard act to follow. You can listen to Pope Benedict all day. It's good for the U.S. and it's good to see the reception he's getting.

I asked her if she was surprised by the amount of time the Holy Father has spent talking about the ual abuse crisis.

"He's trying to acknowledge it happened, unlike some bishops," she said. "He's trying to say that it was a few bad apples and that not everyone is involved. We need to hear it from him. It might help us to heal and move forward."

Of seeing the Pope up close during the motorcade, Beirne said she was still trying to absorb it.

"You could tell it meant a lot to everyone to have seen him," she concluded. "It's not like he's some movie star. He's the Pope. How often does he come to town?"

-- Tim Drake

Kelly Clarkson Singing the Ave Maria

Good news - she's singing the Ave Maria for the Pope, and she changed her outfit. Even though it's been changed it's still worth listening to!

St. Joseph Seminary: Rally with Seminarians and Young People

Here's the entire address from the USCCB.

If Mohammed Won't Go to the Mountain...

When Pope Benedict came to Dunwoodie Seminary chapel to meet with disabled children, he was all business -- at first. I got the impression that he was late. His limo came, and he went straight up the stairs to the chapel.

Lucia Mastbeth  from Moonachie, N.J., was there with her daughter, Amelia, who has cerebral palsy.

She told me the children were well behaved as they waited. I wondered about that, because the children had to wait a long time before the Pope came.

Lucia told me that when the Pope came in, "it felt like there was no air in the room," it was so exciting. The choir sang. He blessed each and every child. They gave him a gift -- a drawing. But then Pope Benedict  suddenly left.

"He left and came back because he forgot to do his speech," said Lucia. "That was cute. We thought he wasn't going to talk to us!"

Lucia told me: "I appreciate what he did, because my daughter will never go to Rome, and my daughter got a special blessing."

-- Robyn Lee

The Pope's Address at the Youth Rally

Prior to the Pope's speech, the youth were introduced to six saints: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Neumann,  Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela.

In the beginning of his talk he spoke of these saints and their example. He identified with the young and the difficulties that they face by recalling his own teen years.

"My own years as a teenager were marred by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers; its influence grew - infiltrating schools and civic bodies, as well as politics and even religion - before it was fully recognized for the monster it was. It banished God and thus became impervious to anything true and good."

He speaks of the darkness of repression and manipulation, and moved on to freedom and relativism.

"Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of he One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ," which was met with much applause.

The crowd applauded again at this line:

"Sometimes we are looked upon as people who speak only of prohibitions. Nothing could be further from the truth!"

The latter part of the talk concentrates on prayer, specifically silent contemplation.

"St. John, for example, tells us that to embrace God's revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen. Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God's whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friend, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness."

He was interrupted by applause at least five times while speaking on vocations, receiving his biggest applausewhen he said: "Let us honor the vocation of matrimony and the dignity of family life," and when he said of seminarians: "I am very glad to know that your numbers are increasing!"

After telling the seminarians that he prays for them daily, the crowd shouted, "We love you, We love you, We love you!" The Holy Father responded, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

There was another big round of applause after this line:

"No perfect community exists, but it is fidelity to a founding charism, not to particular individuals, that the Lord calls you to discern. Have courage!"

At the end of his English section, the Pope rose to finish. The pope's secretary mentioned the "Espanol," at which the Holy Father sat back down smiling. He raised his finger, saying, "Ah, I forgot my Spanish," to much applause. He ended his speech in Spanish.

The Pope at the Youth Rally

The Pope has just entered the youth rally. He's standing in front of a massive papal chair. He seems most energized by the youthful crowd in attendance. He just gave his trademark "air piano" wave, and is giving the biggest smiles I've so far seen on the trip. The youth are wildly cheering and waving white and gold handkerchiefs in greeting to the Pope.

They've been cheering for nearly five minutes now. You can distinctly hear the chants of "Be-ne-de-to" with the clapping, and "Pope Benedict," "Papa," "Christ Our Hope," and "Viva il Papa." Now he's walking out on one of the platforms that goes out towards the crowd. Now he's doing the same on the other side. Each time the crowd erupts.

The Holy Father seems generally enthused by the response.

Touching the People

One observation regarding a difference between the Pope's visit to Washington, D.C. vs. his visit to New York thus far, is that he's had greater access to come into direct contact with people here in New York.

Last night, he greeted people and shook hands outside where he is staying. Today, both on his way into St. Patrick's Cathedral and when coming out, he again took the time to greet some folks. After walking out of the chapel at St. Joseph's Seminary a few moments ago, he again greeted some of those who had gathered on the opposite side of the barricades on the seminary grounds.

Because of his lack of direct contact with people in Washington, D.C. I was tempted to blame the U.S. Secret Service for overzealously keeping the Pope's distance from those who come to see him. Yet, there does seem to be a difference here in New York. It is a difference that Father Federico Lombardi noted today during his impromptu press conference as well.

"He hasn't had many direct contacts with people," said Father Lombardi. "Yesterday, people singing and greeting him and making contact with him was very moving for him. He feels that people are understanding his message."

-- Tim Drake

Priests, Deacons and Religious

Today the Pope made his fifth statement regarding the abuse scandal.

The first, on the plane coming to America, was for the media.

The second, on April 15, was for the bishops.

The third, during the Mass at Nationals Stadium, was for laypeople.

On Thursday, he made the fourth, to Catholic college and university presidents.

Today, at St. Patrick’s, the Pope’s message was for priests, deacons and religious.

The Holy Father has offered a different message to each group. Today’s was one of unity with men who have unfairly fallen under suspicion.

Sister Victoria, from the Sister Servants of Mary in the Bronx, appreciated the Holy Father’s concern.

“I am blessed and grateful to have him here during these critical times,’’ she said.

She said the Holy Father’s presence encouraged her to joyfully live out her vows.

Deacon Lawrence O’Toole, chaplain for the New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., said he was impressed that the Pope addressed the issue.

“It is not a tolerated issue. He showed compassion for those who have been abused, which gives a deeper understanding of his message.”

Deacon O’Toole said it was great to meet “as a brotherhood” at St. Patrick's.

“We do have a direction,” he said. “And we are all here for the same purpose. We are teachers and faith-builders.”

-- Robyn Lee

Kicked Out, But Undeterred

Nina Tioleco, 26, a second-year medical student at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., says she is “invigorated” that the Pope is taking the time to meet with disabled youth.

“Not many people my age are practicing Catholics. It is good to know that there are other people who care what I care about.”

Nina came to Dunwoodie to volunteer to help with the disabled children inside the chapel with a group of New York Medical College students, but "Secret Service kicked us out."

Despite the setback, the students’ enthusiasm for the Benedict’s arrival was undeterred.

-- Robyn Lee

Kelly Clarkson's Performing

Yes, it's true. American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson is performing at the youth rally as I type this. Her song is more pop than Pope, but the crowd is bopping along to the tune. The word is that she'll be performing the "Ave Maria" for the Pope near the end of the youth rally. Hopefully, she'll have a wardrobe change before then.

For those who have asked: No, Kelly isn't Catholic.

At the Youth Rally

The youth rally concert is going on right now. Seeing the thousands of youth and seminarians gathered at St. Joseph's Seminary reminds me of a mini-World Youth Day in more ways than one. First, like World Youth Day, the rally features several singers. Father Stan Fortuna, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and the singers from Three Graces just finished.

Second, some of the pilgrims arrived ill-prepared for a day spent in the sun. It's rather warm out there today, so water had to be brought in. A pickup truck just drove in filled with bottled water.

The Vatican Speaks

Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, just held an impromptu press conference with the media. He was just asked whether the sexual abuse crisis was the most important part of the Pope's visit.

"You have to see the global message of hope and renewal of the Church," replied Father Lombardi. "In giving hope to the Church in the U.S. you have to recall the problems in these years and find new ways to go on. You cannot give hope without recognizing the problems that have to be overcome to move forward into the future."

Father Lombardi added that he felt that the Pope's speech at the U.N. has been overshadowed by other aspects of the trip.

He also remarked on the Pope's encounter with those on the street last evening and prior to today's Mass.

"I think that the people on the street were very friendly," he said. "We had a real good feeling of acceptance of the Pope by people on the street, not just the authorities."

Talking briefly about tomorrow's visit to Ground Zero, Father Lombardi said that the ceremony will be "simple but rich."

Finally, he noted that it was likely that Pope Benedict would be meeting briefly today with Cardinal Avery Dulles at St. Joseph's Seminary. Cardinal Dulles, 89, has been ailing and unable to attend the events in New York.

Scenes From the Hotel

At one point during the Mass, I stepped downstairs. Walking through the hotel's restaurant, the restaurant's host and server were both standing, heads raised, watching the television with rapt attention. While several screens were playing sporting highlights and recaps, it wasn't sports that the restaurant employees were watching intently. They were watching Pope Benedict XVI celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

When I stepped into the hotel lobby, a baggage handler was helping a woman with her bag. He excitedly asked her, "Did you see the Pope?"

These are the scenes and stories we're so seldom told.

-- Tim Drake

New York Loves the Pope

Still catching up on yesterday at the United Nations and the other day's events... The Neocatechumenal Way crowd across from the United Nations that I posted about just now were a lively bunch. As some stood at the front of the police pen that had been set up in an area known for U.N. protest rallies (I remember covering one concerning Sudan once), others behind them danced in a big circular motion as guitars and drum kept a lively tempo. The music, the warm spring sun, the buzz of the city streets, the anticipation of the arrival of the Pope seemed to have a kind of hypnotic effect. Banners in front proclaimed people's warm sentiments for the guest who was about to arrive.
Samuel Gonzalez, who I was interviewing, told me that the empty pen next to them had been set up for those who wished to express opposite sentiments. The pen was empty. "There was a guy there a little while ago, but he just left," Gonzalez said. A policeman confirmed that the empty pen was there for protestors.
Sabrina Ferrisi, who was covering the U.N. speech with me, stayed at the U.N. for the duration of the speech. But she had to leave for a pre-arranged appointment out on First Avenue with Univision, the Spanish-language television station in New York. They wanted someone to comment on the speech--in Spanish. When she was done she walked up First Avenue and cast a glance at the protest area. The Neocatechumenal Way people were still there, still singing and dancing and praying. The other pen had about six folks, one of whom was also doing a kind of dance, walking around dragging the U.S. flag with her feet.
What a contrast, eh?
Fast-forward to 7 p.m. I headed up to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on 90th Street, between Second and Third avenues. There and at a few other churches, Catholics were gathering for holy hour and Mass and perhaps a bit of interaction with New Yorkers on the street, offering them the faith, offering a reason for their hope. I was late and missed the holy hour, so I really couldn't gauge the number of people there, but a sizeable crowd lined up on 90th Street and proceeded to walk down Third Avenue. People at the other churches did likewise, with all the processions converging on 72nd Street near Madison Avenue. The destination of this little pilgrimage was the residence of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. Since the primary reason for Pope Benedict's visit to America was to address the General Assembly of the United Nations, he would by protocol stay at Archbishop Migliore's residence.
Whoever organized this Catholic convergence on 72nd and Madison has to be given a lot of credit. I know that Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and Sisters of Life were involved with the planning. But to organize something like this sort of spur-of-the-moment, when Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, the Secret Service, the Swiss Guard and the NYPD had all kinds of security measures and plans and restrictions and frozen traffic zones and radiation detectors in place was remarkable.
As I say, I couldn't estimate numbers as we were leaving the church, but by the time we got to where we were going, I'd say there had to be several thousand people out there. It was kind of like being in St. Peter's Square, waiting for the Pope to appear at the window of his apartment. Ninety-nine percent of the crowd consisted of young people.
This Pope is old? Out of touch? Unable to connect with the younger generation? Uh-uh.
Again, there was singing, there was dancing, there was serious praying. There was excited anticipation for some appearance by His Holiness.  When I described the scene to my  wife, Angeles, later, she said it sounded like a typical all-night vigil at World Youth Day.
Someone appeared at the window on the third floor of the residence, and the crowd sent up a cheer. It wasn't the Pope. We had to wait some more. People sang Happy Birthday, chanted Viva il Papa, sang Latin hymns. Friars with guitar and drum led a spirited song of praise. I tried to see if people could join me in the German version of the Ode to Joy (Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium...). I ended up singing solo, with some sympathetic Sisters of Life and others joining me in English. I didn't mind. I was among friends.
A policeman stood in the intersection looking through very large binoculars at the buildings down the street. Ah! That's why the Pope is not appearing yet. Security has to do a sweep and make sure there are no snipers on a roof somewhere before the Pontiff can be given permission to come to the window.
Finally, at 9:10, Benedict appeared, and cheers went up. He stayed for 20 minutes, waving to his admirers....
....Or so it seemed to most of us, who were not exactly close! Someone who was closer to the building told me later that she could see the person or persons in the window--and it was clearly not Benedict. She too noticed police scoping out the buildings in the vicinity with their high-powered binoculars. "They would NEVER let him appear at a window like that," my friend said. But a few people actually managed to get inside a large tent that was set up in front of the residence, where Benedict would board his car or popemobile, and the Pope came down to street level and had a chat with them.

Most folks went home think they had seen Benedict in the third floor window. But the TV news told the real story later.

Nonetheless, my friend said, he did impart an apostolic blessing on the entire crowd.

--John Burger

Pope Benedict XVI Unplugged

In Pope Benedict's first unscripted public remarks, at the end of Mass he just commented on being a successor of Peter, who he described as "a man with his faults and sins, but he was a rock for the Church...," praying that he might be able to carry out his mission for the Church. "I thank you for your love and your prayers."

In the Shadow of Peter

A lot of people have worried that Pope Benedict wouldn't be able to "connect" with people. He had a tough act to follow -- Pope John Paul II was obviously a very charismatic person. Will Benedict be able to wow the masses and woo the apathetic as his predecessor did? He was a lot older when he was elected. He's spent his life in books, not among the people. He's reserved in manner, shy even.
I read an article a few weeks ago, in anticipation of this Pope's visit. The writer pointed out that JPII was a Pope of gestures, while Benedict is a man of words and ideas. John Paul kissed the ground when he arrived at a new country. He placed a prayer note in the cracks of the Wailing Wall. He swung his cane Chaplin-like in front of cheering young people.
I thought of this as I walked down First Avenue yesterday, on the way to the United Nations to cover Benedict's speech. This is the setting for a man of words and ideas, I thought, more so than, say, Yankee Stadium. Benedict will be speaking to those who think and argue, to whom philosophies and ideologies are important. He'll feel comfortable in that respect.
Samuel Gonzalez wasn't too concerned with whether Pope Benedict would be able to connect with people.  He was thinking of a gesture of another kind. "Wherever Peter is, there is the Church," he said to me when I met him on First Avenue, across from U.N. headquarters. He was there with a couple of hundred singing, dancing, banner-holding young Catholics. Many, like Gonzalez, were members of the Neocatechumenal Way ecclesial movement. Gonzalez, 48, is from the Bronx, but others hailed from Texas and California. Many followed Benedict up from Washington, D.C.
"Where Peter is, there is the Church." And Peter, at that moment was making his way from JFK and the Wall Street heliport and up First Avenue. Gonzalez knew that after the Pope made his speech at the U.N., he would pass by the crowd of prayerful supporters, penned in by the New York City Police Department to keep things from getting out of hand. "When Peter went by, even those who were in his shadow could be healed," he said, citing the New Testament. He didn't say if there was something of which he hoped to be healed, nor did I ask him. My colleague, Sabrina Ferrisi, and I were anxious to get inside the U.N. and cover the event.
But it strikes me that this man doesn't need a gesture to attract him to this Pope. His faith brought him here.
Would there be a healing? Perhaps. But certainly, Benedict came to be a healer. His words to U.N. delegates offered a way to heal the divisions in our world. His presence among our separated brothers and sisters and those of other faiths was a healing gesture. His words can have a healing effect on a nation so wracked by an ongoing culture war.
Let us listen.

--John Burger

Text of Pope Benedict's Homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Here is the entire text of the Pope's homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral from the U.S. bishops' site.

(Edited to leave more room on the blog!)

Many Members, One Body: The Pope's Homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral

The Pope's homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral concentrates on the theme of spiritual unity based on the Trinity. He uses the architecture of St. Patrick's Cathedral itself to frame the homily, drawing on the Cathedral's stained-glass windows, its spires, its presence amidst New York's skyscrapers.

It is a strong defense of the Church's position on life, stronger than most anything that we've yet heard from the Pope during his American visit. New York's Sisters of Life, I am certain, were nodding in agreement as the Holy Father said these words:

"The Church, as 'a people made one by the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit' (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4), is called to proclaim the gift of life, to serve life, and to promote a culture of life. Here in this cathedral, our thoughts turn naturally to the heroic witness to the Gospel of life borne by the late Cardinals Terence Cooke and John O'Connor. The proclamation of life, life in abundance, must be the heart of the New Evangelization. For true life -- our salvation -- can only be found in the reconciliation, freedom and love which are God's gracious gift.

This is the message of hope we are called to proclaim and embody in a world where self-centeredness, greed, violence and cynicism so often seem to choke the fragile growth of grace in people's hearts. Saint Irenaeus with great insight, understood that the command which Moses enjoined upon the people of Israel: 'Choose life! (Deuteronomy 30:19) was the ultimate reason for our obedience to all God's commandments (see Av. Haer. IV, 16, 2-5). Perhaps we have lost sight of this: in a society where the Church seems legalistic and 'institutional' to many people, our most urgent challenge is to communicate the joy born of faith and the experience of God's love."

St. Irenaeus receives two mentions in the homily. In a section that reminded me of British author and convert G.K. Chesterton's famous comment about the Church looking so much larger from the inside than the out, Pope Benedict speaks of the Cathedral's stained glass windows.

"From the outside, those windows are dark, heavy, even dreary. But once one enters the church, they suddenly come alive; reflecting the light passing through them, they reveal all their splendor. ... It is only from the inside, from the experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we see the Church as she truly is: flooded with grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the manifold gifts of the spirit. It follows that we, who live the life of grace within the Church's communion, are called to draw all people into this mystery of life."

He also addresses the confusion and disunity following the Second Vatican Council, urging greater unity.

"For all of us, I think, one of the great disappointments which followed the Second Vatican Council, with its call for a greater engagement in the Church's mission to the world, has been the experience of division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family. We can only move forward if we turn our gaze together to Christ!"

As he has in so many of his previous addresses, he again brings up the subject of the sexual abuse crisis, saying:

"Here I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents. I join in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular Church and religious community, and a time for healing. I also encourage you to cooperate with your bishops who continue to work effectively to resolve this issue."

At the end of the homily, he again stresses the importance of unity in the Body of Christ, again urges reception of the sacrament of penance, and encourages and supports religious, especially seminarians and the young religious.

"All of you have a special place in my heart. Never forget that you are called to carry on, with all the enthusiasm and joy that the Spirit has given you, a work that others have begun, a legacy that one day you too will have to pass on to a new generation."

"The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral are dwarfed by the skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline, yet in the heart of this busy metropolis, they are a vivid reminder of the constant yearning of the human spirit to rise to God. As we celebrate this Eucharist,, let us thank the Lord for allowing us to know him in the communion of the Church, to cooperate in building up his Mystical Body, and in bringing his saving word as good news to the men and women of our time. And when we leave this great church, let us go forth as heralds of hope in the midst of this city, and all those places where God's grace has placed us. In this way, the Church in America will know a new springtime in the Spirit, and point the way to that other, greater city, the new Jerusalem, whose light is the Lamb (Rev 21:23). For there God is even now preparing for all people a banquet of unending joy and life. Amen."

Kneeling at the Lady Chapel

According to Brian Caulfield, with the Knights of Columbus, who is seated behind me, the Pope just knelt in prayer before the Lady Chapel. Brian knows this because he proposed to his wife Maria before this same chapel. The Pope greeted some dignitaries and is now headed to the sacristy.

An Enthusiastic Welcome

The Pope has arrived at St. Patrick's. After delivering his "air piano" greeting outside the cathedral and speaking with Mayor Bloomberg, he entered the Cathedral to an extremely enthusiastic welcome. The Missionaries of Charity are reaching out to touch the Pope. The applause started before he entered and continues. Now the throng rose up in a great cheer, with the bishops and archbishops and cardinals joining in.

What's Happening at St. Patrick's

The cardinals, archbishops and bishops have arrived. Msgr. Guido Marini is guiding servers and other participants through the procedures for the Mass. The cathedral is already filled with priests, male and female religious, and seminarians in anticipation for the Holy Father's arrival. The choir is singing; the orchestra is playing.

CNN Appearance Canceled

Originally, CNN was planning to interview me as part of a segment on Catholic bloggers this morning between 11-12 EST. Word came yesterday, that they decided they wanted a young blogger and a female blogger, so I was disinvited. Such is the constantly changing nature of television coverage. Instead, the very able Thomas Peters of American Papist and Lisa Hendey of CatholicMoms will be on the CNN segment.

-- Tim Drake

A New Day in New York

You can feel it the excitement in the air ... particularly among the Catholic press. It's the third anniversary of Pope Benedict's election. There's a sense that today's a big day, a day of energy. The day begins with Pope Benedict XVI's Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral with some 3,000 priests and religious. In the afternoon, the Pope travels to St. Joseph's Seminary, where he will first bless youth with disabilities at the chapel there, and then moves to an outdoor venue for the youth rally with 22,000 young people and seminarians. We'll have David Pearson inside at the Mass at St. Patrick's, Robyn Lee outside for the Pope's arrival at St. Joseph's Seminary, and seminarian Tucker Cordani at the youth rally.

Then, tomorrow morning the Pope travels to Ground Zero. Very, very few media have been allowed at that event. There's also the grand finale -- the Mass at Yankee Stadium. I'll be at that event not as a reporter, but as a participant in the stands. Finally, the Holy Father will depart from JFK. John Burger will be there for the departure.

The Great Divorces

Ask your average Christian -- Catholic or otherwise -- his opinion of disunity, and you may find that he doesn't think it's a big deal at all.

It was a big deal only twice in history: In the year 1000, the Great Schism was a big deal, and five centuries later the Reformation was a big deal. But we’ve learned to live with it since then.

And not just live wit it: we like it. Why the heck not divvy Christians up into separate home bases where we can all feel comfortable?

It can seem a little over the top when the Catechism of the Catholic Church describe