Apr 15, 2008 7:06 pm US/Eastern
St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers Locked In Pope Mode
Westchester County City Going All Out To Make Benedict's Historic Stay Even More Memorable
YONKERS (CBS) ―
Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Kennedy Airport on Friday morning. St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers is feverishly preparing for the pontiff's weekend visit.
Inside the gates of St. Joseph's, preparations continue on a grand scale for the visit of the Holy Father, including the construction of an enormous stage for Saturday's mass.
Outside in the Dunwoody neighborhood preparations are more modest, though no less meaningful.
Carol Frascino has tickets to see the pope and celebrated her good fortune by decorating a magnolia tree with yellow crosses.
Up and down Seminary Avenue, also known as Pope John Paul II Boulevard, excitement is building for the visit of Benedict XVI.
"He's not as vivacious I think as John Paul, but I think he's spiritual, and he's trying to get the word across to the youth and the whole world," Frascino said.
Saturday's papal visit means some disruption of area highways. The Cross County Parkway will be closed from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. between the Saw Mill Parkway and Central Park Avenue.
In Yonkers, Valentine Street and Seminary Avenue will be closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No pedestrian or vehicular traffic will be permitted.
Part of the security has tightened significantly since John Paul II visited St. Joseph's in 1995.
"Things have changed so drastically even since 1995, security is much tighter," Rev. Michael Morris said. "Back then you could basically get a ticket, walk on the grounds. Now security is so concentrated."
One thing hasn't changed: Yonkers' excitement as playing a role in hosting the Holy Father.
"My mother-in-law is sick right now, but she said she's going to get out on her porch even just to see him pass by," resident Lori DeMatteo said. "She's so excited. She wants to see him."
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for live on-air and online video coverage of the pope's visit in America.
Click here for complete coverage of the papal visit.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WCBSTV.com's Most Popular Pages
