Pope concludes visit to US with Mass at Yankee Stadium
{{date|April 21, 2008}}
[[Image:Benedict XVI in NYC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Benedict XVI in NYC on April 19.{{Image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/46983348@N00 Taís Melillo]}}]]
Sunday was the last day of [[w:Pope|Pope]] [[Benedict XVI]]'s six-day visit to the [[United States]]. The first event was a visit to the [[w:World Trade Center|World Trade Center site]] in [[w:Lower Manhattan|Lower Manhattan]], [[New York, New York|New York City]], [[New York]].

The Pope rode his [[w:Popemobile|Popemobile]] down a ramp, to the bottom of the site. Accompanied by [[w:Edward Egan|Cardinal Edward Egan]], the [[w:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|archbishop of New York]], he knelt at a rectangular pool and prayed silently for the victims of the [[w:September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 attacks]]. Then he held up a single lit candle, before he began to speak.

"Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred," the Pope said. "Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that lives lost here may not have been lost in vain."
[[Image:Benedict XVI in New York Central Park.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Pope crosses East 60th Street in [[w:Central Park|Central Park]] on Saturday with heavy police security.{{Image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/55556418@N00 Oquendo]}}]]
"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world; peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth," he said. Afterwards, he met with family members of 16 of the victims and also with four of the rescue workers.

"I didn't really have anything to say to him," George Bachmann, a now-retired fire fighter, who broke his back and suffered burns as a first responder. "Being in his presence was enough for me."

In the afternoon on Sunday, Benedict XVI travelled to [[w:The Bronx|The Bronx]] to hold [[w:Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] at [[w:Yankee Stadium|Yankee Stadium]], which is the home [[w:baseball park|stadium]] for the [[w:New York Yankees|New York Yankees]] [[baseball]] team. The stadium has been the scene of papal Masses by Paul VI in 1965 and John Paul II in 1979.
[[Image:Stage at Yankee stadium for Benedict XVI mass.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Final touches are being put on the stage at Yankee stadium on Saturday.{{Image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/56276457@N00 llahbocaj]}}]]
The Popemobile entered the stadium at 2:19 p.m. [[w:Eastern Time Zone|EDT]] ([[w:UTC-4|UTC-4]]) and drove around the baseball field in front of the crowd of over 57,000.

"Your pastoral visit is for all of us gathered here in New York a blessing for which we are all grateful," said Cardinal Egan in his introduction. "It is an extraordinary privilege to be allowed to tell you what a deep and appreciated grace your presence is for all of us."

Benedict XVI told the crowd that the Mass was "a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations."
[[Image:Yankee stadium being prepared for Benedict XVI mass.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Early preparation of Yankee Stadium on April 19.{{Image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/56276457@N00 llahbocaj]}}]]
During the [[w:homily|homily]], the Pope said "The Gospel teaches us that true freedom, the freedom of the children of God, is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. Only by losing ourselves, the Lord tells us, do we truly find ourselves." He also touched on the subjects of peace, human rights and religious freedom which had been hallmarks of his previous addresses while in the United States.

It also marked the 200th anniversary of the archdioces in New York, [[w:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia]], [[w:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Boston]] and [[w:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville|Louisville]], which were all created in April 1808.

"It's like Jesus Christ visiting America," Clemens Semon, 50, a resident of [[w:Ozone Park, Queens|Ozone Park, Queens]] who immigrated from [[Ivory Coast]] told ''The New York Times''. "You see how many pack together, come together to see him? He's a unifier, he brings hope and peace."
[[Image:Farewell ceremony Pope at JFK Airport.jpg|thumb|250px|Left|Pope Benedict XVI delivers remarks at farewell ceremony at JFK Airport on Sunday.]] 
Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and his wife Lynne Cheney joined the Pope for the farewell ceremony at New York's [[w:John F. Kennedy International Airport|John F. Kennedy International Airport]]. Senator and presidential candidate [[Hillary Clinton]] and former President [[Bill Clinton]] had been expected, but did not attend. They were even mentioned in Cheney's prepared remarks. 

"You've encountered a nation facing many challenges, but with more blessings than anyone could count," Cheney said in his five-minute speech. "All Americans respect your message of peace, justice and freedom."

In the Pope's remarks, the pontiff mentioned the visit to the World Trade Center site, "My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory." His last comment as he turned to leave was, "May God Bless America."

Benedict XVI waved goodbye from the doorway of his [[w:Alitalia|Alitalia]] "[[w:Shepherd One|Shepherd One]]" at 8:40 p.m. EDT.

The papal airplane "Shepherd One" touched down at [[w:Rome Ciampino Airport|Rome Ciampino Airport]], [[Italy]], at 10:40 a.m. [[w:Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[w:UTC+2|UTC+2]]) on Monday.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Pope addresses UN in NY as US visit continues|date=April 19, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Pope Benedict XVI visit to the United States begins|date=April 16, 2008}}

== Sources ==
{{Commons|Category:Benedict XVI in United States}}
{{Wikipediapar|List of journeys of Pope Benedict XVI#United States (April 15 to April 20, 2008)|Benedict XVI in United States}}
*{{source|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQVATWIhqE4ueFmXGRYWjbB6G5UA
|title=Pope arrives home from US trip
|author=Agence France-Presse
|pub=Google News
|date=April 21, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/pope_departs_jfk_ending_6day_u.html
|title=Pope departs JFK, ending 6-day U.S. tour
|author=Bob Braun and Carly Rothman
|pub=The Star-Ledger
|date=April, 20, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-04-20-pope-ground-zero_N.htm?csp=34
|title=Pope celebrating Yankee Stadium Mass
|author=Kevin McCoy
|pub=USA Today
|date=April 20, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://wcbstv.com/local/pope.benedict.xvi.2.704121.html
|title=Yankee Stadium Welcomes Pope Benedict XVI
|author=Mary Calvi
|pub=WCBS-TV
|date=April 20, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/the-scene-at-yankee-stadium/index.html?hp
|title=Benedict Celebrates Mass at Yankee Stadium
|author=Sewell Chan
|pub=The New York Times
|date=April 20, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/20/america/york.php
|title=Pope prays for peace at site of Sept. 11 attacks in New York
|author=Ian Fisher and John Sullivan
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=April 20, 2008}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:New York, New York]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:The Vatican]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Pope Benedict XVI]]
[[Category:Dick Cheney]]
[[Category:Bill Clinton]]
[[Category:Hillary Clinton]]
[[Category:Bronx]]
[[Category:Manhattan]]
[[Category:John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
Benedict XVI in NYC on April 19.
Sunday was the last day of Pope Benedict XVI's six-day visit to the United States. The first event was a visit to the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York.

The Pope rode his Popemobile down a ramp, to the bottom of the site. Accompanied by Cardinal Edward Egan, the archbishop of New York, he knelt at a rectangular pool and prayed silently for the victims of the September 11 attacks. Then he held up a single lit candle, before he began to speak.

"Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred," the Pope said. "Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that lives lost here may not have been lost in vain."
Central Park on Saturday with heavy police security.
"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world; peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth," he said. Afterwards, he met with family members of 16 of the victims and also with four of the rescue workers.

"I didn't really have anything to say to him," George Bachmann, a now-retired fire fighter, who broke his back and suffered burns as a first responder. "Being in his presence was enough for me."

In the afternoon on Sunday, Benedict XVI travelled to The Bronx to hold Mass at Yankee Stadium, which is the home stadium for the New York Yankees baseball team. The stadium has been the scene of papal Masses by Paul VI in 1965 and John Paul II in 1979.
Final touches are being put on the stage at Yankee stadium on Saturday.
The Popemobile entered the stadium at 2:19 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) and drove around the baseball field in front of the crowd of over 57,000.

"Your pastoral visit is for all of us gathered here in New York a blessing for which we are all grateful," said Cardinal Egan in his introduction. "It is an extraordinary privilege to be allowed to tell you what a deep and appreciated grace your presence is for all of us."

Benedict XVI told the crowd that the Mass was "a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations."
Early preparation of Yankee Stadium on April 19.
During the homily, the Pope said "The Gospel teaches us that true freedom, the freedom of the children of God, is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. Only by losing ourselves, the Lord tells us, do we truly find ourselves." He also touched on the subjects of peace, human rights and religious freedom which had been hallmarks of his previous addresses while in the United States.

It also marked the 200th anniversary of the archdioces in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Louisville, which were all created in April 1808.

"It's like Jesus Christ visiting America," Clemens Semon, 50, a resident of Ozone Park, Queens who immigrated from Ivory Coast told The New York Times. "You see how many pack together, come together to see him? He's a unifier, he brings hope and peace."
Pope Benedict XVI delivers remarks at farewell ceremony at JFK Airport on Sunday. 
Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne Cheney joined the Pope for the farewell ceremony at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton had been expected, but did not attend. They were even mentioned in Cheney's prepared remarks. 

"You've encountered a nation facing many challenges, but with more blessings than anyone could count," Cheney said in his five-minute speech. "All Americans respect your message of peace, justice and freedom."

In the Pope's remarks, the pontiff mentioned the visit to the World Trade Center site, "My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory." His last comment as he turned to leave was, "May God Bless America."

Benedict XVI waved goodbye from the doorway of his Alitalia "Shepherd One" at 8:40 p.m. EDT.

The papal airplane "Shepherd One" touched down at Rome Ciampino Airport, Italy, at 10:40 a.m. CEST (UTC+2) on Monday.
North America United States New York New York, New York Europe The Vatican Religion Christianity Pope Benedict XVI Dick Cheney Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton Bronx Manhattan John F. Kennedy International Airport