Apr 19, 2008 4:23 pm US/Eastern
Pope Calls For Healing After Sex Abuse Scandals
Held Historic Mass At St. Patrick's Cathedral
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Pope Benedict XVI gives communion at Saint Patrick's Cathedral April 19, 2008 in New York.
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI began the second day of his visit to New York by celebrating mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. It was the first time in the history of the 19th-century landmark.
"There's nothing more thrilling I guess short of Jesus Christ himself coming down from heaven and being with us," Deacon Eric Kunz said.
Cardinals and bishops, priests and nuns jammed the magnificent Gothic church on Fifth Avenue Saturday, while onlookers stood outside to welcome the Pontiff.
Thousands lined up in crowds 10 lines deep for a glimpse of the pope. A group of teenagers from a church in Paterson, New Jersey, played tambourines.
Addressing some 3,000 people, most of them clergy, he called it a time for purification and healing.
"I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to he continuing challenges that this situation presents," Benedict said.
He also urged them to cooperate with bishops, who he said were working to resolve the crisis.
Saturday was the third anniversary of Benedict's election as pope. Benedict was clearly moved after the Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and others offered him best wishes for the anniversary at the end of the Mass. The pope said that he, like St. Peter, was a "man with his faults."
Benedict then led a procession out the center aisle, blessing the cheering worshippers.
Marcio Silva proudly displayed a digital camera photograph of the pope in a limousine taking him to St. Patrick's. The Bridgeport, Connecticut, painter said he feels better after seeing the pope, because he said saw a person who will make the world better.
On Sixth Avenue, souvenir hawkers were selling pennants with the pope's picture for 10 dollars, flags in the Vatican colors of yellow and white and pope buttons.
Benedict blessed the cathedral with holy water before making his way to the altar of the landmark church. As the pope walked down the center aisle, nuns clutched at his robes, showing an enthusiasm for his presence that has spread among the general public.
Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, amidst the pictures and prayers, priests were practicing their papal procession Friday.
"We're ready to go, we're ready to go. I mean we're very excited," said Father Michael Sullivan, the master of ceremonies at St. Patrick's.
Then there were some sisters, who drove 14 hours from Indiana to try to get a good look at Pope Benedict.
"It's really exciting," Maria Gemma said. "I can't believe we're actually in the same church where the pope is going to be tomorrow. Unbelievable.'"
The Vatican said the German-born pope came outside from his residence on the Upper East Side Friday night to greet a crowd of more than 500 people who had lined up for hours. He shook hands and blessed the crowd before returning inside.
After the mass, the Holy Father will head to St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers for a youth day rally with 20,000 youngsters, including a short concert by former American Idol star Kelly Clarkson.
The pope will also say a mass with seminarians, whose numbers are dwindling. The hope is the pope can act as a recruiter.
"A lot of us owe our vocations to the fact that John Paul II came and called on us to follow Christ," Deacon Michael Houser said.
Michelle Harrison saw the pope address the United Nations on Friday morning.
"I shook hands with the pope. It was incredible. Being brought up Catholic, it's something you never expect to do in your lifetime, so it was wonderful. Thoroughly heavenly I guess," Harrison said.
If you're thinking about driving around the city on Saturday, take note of street closures in effect for the pope's visit.
The frozen zone around St. Patrick's Cathedral began at Midnight Friday.
* 50th and 51st streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues remain closed until 3 p.m. on Saturday.
* 47th Street through 53rd Street, from Sixth Avenue to Park Avenue is off limits between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. During those hours, Madison Avenue will be closed from 47th to 53rd and Fifth Avenue will be shut down from 47th through 73rd.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Pope Benedict XVI Visits America
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