Pope Benedict visited Ground Zero this morning (NYC’s Eternal Construction Site and diminishing tourist attraction; the famous Deutsche Bank looming in the center) and offered a blessing to its memory. Naturally, he’s the first pope to visit Ground Zero, but the way construction there is proceeding and has been mysteriously and unaccountably delayed, he may not be the last. The pope asked for “eternal peace for the people who died in the attacks” and for “strength and healing for their families…making only “oblique references” to the terrorists (he may have been watching the 9/11 videos on Google).
In the afternoon, he said Mass at Yankee Stadium; the third Papal Mass held at this stadium, home of the most overpaid and overindulged team in the history of baseball. However, it’s a great place for attracting a crowd. Over 60,000 Catholics attended. In his “sermon on the mound” homily (coined when Pope Paul VI said Mass there in 1965), the Pope said that Catholics should “overcome every separation between faith and life [and counter] false gospels of freedom and happiness…rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life.”
This is the last day of Pope Benedict’s visit to America; most likely, he’ll never visit again. At 82, he seemed to be in good spirits and diligently energetic throughout an itinerary that would tire many younger people. Oftentimes, I’m exhausted after merely taking a stroll through Prospect Park.
Personally, I like Pope Benedict…being a Catholic myself (however cleverly suspended my faith may be), I probably have a deeply-ingrained acceptance of such personages. Then again, I’m also a romantic; it’s probably the romance of Catholicism and other idealistic aspirations that possess me against my better judgement. Even my English wife (follower of her King Henry VIII established Church) can dig it…so there.
Source: NY TIMES (as usual)
Tags: nyc, personal, politics, pope benedict
Sphere: Related Content
April 21st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Interesting; thanks for sharing. Yes you are a Romantic, and Catholicism is deeply Romantic.