• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

'Little Germany' Has Big Role In Pope's NYC Visit

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Apr 10, 2008 2:00 am US/Eastern

'Little Germany' Has Big Role In Pope's NYC Visit

German Pontiff Will Visit Church In Ethnic Neighborhood

~ About Benedict XVI's Papacy And U.S. Visit

NEW YORK (CBS) ― During his stay in New York, Pope Benedict XVI, the first German pope, will visit New York's own "Little Germany," located in the part of Manhattan known as Yorkville.

St. Joseph's Church on East 87th Street will be one of the locations the pontiff will visit come next week, and church officials are thrilled.

"I think it's terrific," said Msgr. Lawrence Connaughton, who was a pastor at the church for 12 years. He will be one of the few Catholics present for an ecumenical prayer service.

"He's bringing in all Christian faiths, inviting all Christian faiths to celebrate who we are as a Christian people," said Connaughton.

Connaughton will be also one of those who has the honor of actually greeting the Pope at the historic German parish.

So, what will he say?

"I would reassure him of my prayers for him. He has a heavy load," said Connaughton.

Julia Winter, who came with her parents to the parish from Bavaria when she was 2-years-old, was excited for several reason.

"It's exciting to, number one, have a Pope come to your own parish; and second, because he's Bavarian," she said.

And even locals who won't get to see the Pope are happy to hear he'll be visiting their neck of the woods. The stately and musical Liederkranz Club has a history dating back to 1847, and though Benedict won't be visiting there, the fact that he's visiting Yorkville is a source of pride even for non-Catholics.

"Culturally, for us, it's phenomenal, and everyone knows he's coming here," said Lya Pfeifer.

Aside from Yorkville, the Pope will be addressing the United Nations, visiting a seminary in Yonkers, and offering mass at Yankee Stadium. And though he'll be taking part in those major events, if only for a brief time, he'll turn one of Manhattan's tiny, tight-knit neighborhoods into a larger-than-life grand stage.

ALSO SEE:
~ U.S. Welcomes Pope Benedict XVI
~ Looking Back: Pope John Paul II's U.S. Visits
~ Pope Benedict XVI's Papacy Faces Modern World
~ Pope John Paul II Dies, Succeeded By Benedict XVI
~ More Papal Visit Coverage

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

U.S. & World

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.