Apr 20, 2008 10:59 am US/Eastern
Pope Blesses Ground Zero In NYC, Prays For Peace
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
On Sunday, the final day of his trip, Pope Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero to honor those who died on 9/11. Family members of several victims joined the pope for the private service, CBS station WCBS-TV in New York.
Benedict began the final day of his American journey by blessing the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and pleading with God to bring "peace to our violent world."
The visit was a poignant moment in a trip marked by unexpectedly festive crowds anxious to see the former academic who for three years has led the world's Roman Catholics.
Benedict was driven in the popemobile part-way down a ramp now used mostly by construction trucks to a spot by the north tower's footprint. He walked the final steps, knelt in silent prayer for a few moments, then rose to light a memorial candle.
Papal flags and new white canopies marked the spot where the pope entered Ground Zero.
Benedict invited 24 people with ties to ground zero to join him: survivors, relatives of victims and four rescue workers. He greeted each member of the group individually as a string quartet played in the background. In his prayer, he also remembered those who, "because of their presence here that day, suffer from injuries and illness."
The pope also acknowledged the many faiths of the victims at the "scene of incredible violence and pain," praying for "those who suffered death, injury and loss" in the attacks at the Pentagon and in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa.
More than 2,900 people were killed in the four crashes of the airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda.
"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world," the pope prayed on a chilly, overcast morning. "Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."
New York deputy fire chief James Riches, father of a fallen Sept. 11 firefighter, said the pope's visit was important and gave him "a little consolation."
Hundreds of people stood just outside the site, behind police barricades, hoping for a glimpse of the pope.
The site where the World Trade Center was destroyed is normally filled with hundreds of workers building a 102-story skyscraper, a memorial and transit hub. It bears little resemblance to the debris-filled pit where crews toiled to remove twisted steel and victims' remains.
The remains of more than 1,100 people have never been identified.
Benedict was joined by New York Cardinal Edward Egan, along Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. David Paterson and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. The land is owned and managed by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Jean Palombo attended the service. Her husband, firefighter Frank Palombo was killed on 9/11. "They never found anything from his body so that's his resting place and the pope is going there to bless his resting place and that's incredible," she said.
Grace, conversion, and forgiveness are absolutely necessary said 9/11 widow Linda Litto of Staten Island.
"We need to pray not only for ourselves and for the souls that were lost but for the terrorists even," said Litto. "Pray for them to see the light - that we are not evil people we just want to live in Peace."
Litto's husband Vincent was an executive at Cantor Fitzgerald. The 9/11 terrorist attack was the day before their 26th wedding anniversary.
A vigil was held Saturday at Ground Zero to honor the memory of Fire Chaplain Mychal Judge. The vigil's organizer Brendan Fay said, "He was a man who man of peace who is a beacon of light during some of the darkest days of this city for many people during the aids crisis."
Benedict has addressed terrorism several times during his six-day visit.
In a private meeting with President Bush, the two leaders "touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights," according to a joint U.S.-Holy See statement.
Addressing the United Nations on Friday, Benedict warned diplomats that international cooperation needed to solve urgent problems is "in crisis" because decisions rest in the hands of a few powerful nations.
The pope also insisted that the way to peace was by ensuring respect for human dignity. "The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and increasing security," the pope said.
Those whose rights are trampled, he said, "become easy prey to the call to violence and they then become violators of peace."
Benedict has addressed terrorism several times during his six-day visit.
In a private meeting with President Bush, the two leaders "touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights," according to a joint U.S.-Holy See statement.
Benedict has been critical of harsh interrogation methods, telling a meeting of the Vatican's office for social justice last September that, while a country has an obligation to keep its citizens safe, prisoners must never be demeaned or tortured.
Addressing the United Nations on Friday, Benedict warned diplomats that international cooperation needed to solve urgent problems is "in crisis" because decisions rest in the hands of a few powerful nations.
The pope also insisted that the way to peace was by ensuring respect for human dignity.
"The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and increasing security," the pope said.
Those whose rights are trampled, he said, "become easy prey to the call to violence and they then become violators of peace."
Later Sunday, the pope will celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium, before returning to Rome.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
