New York Papal Visit

This past week, Pope Benedict XVI graced Catholic-Americans with his presence as he journeyed from Washington D.C. to New York. He visited Ground Zero and honored the victims of 9/11 with prayer; he held a huge mass at Yankee Stadium and met the full force of the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

The Pope visited a number of places during his tour of the United States, including a synagogue and Catholic University in Washington D.C., where he met with college students. Benedict held the first mass led by a pontiff in beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. He touched many as he paraded through the streets of New York in the bullet-proof "Pope-mobile," but his visit certainly had a message.

At Ground Zero, he prayed for world peace "in today's violent world." The Pope has an influence on many foreign leaders because of his great religious stature- he has the ability to change a leader's mind based on his religion, something of great importance to many.

As mentioned before, the Pope tackled the issue of sexual abuse by the clergy in the Catholic Church. He spoke with victims and called for a time of healing during the mass at St. Patrick's.