Polish, French, Tagalog, Croatian, and Igbo, reflecting the diversity present in the Archdiocese of New York.

In the Eucharistic Prayer, the Holy Father consecrated approximately 26,000 hosts as priests holding ciboria filled with unconsecrated wafers lined the infield. The remaining hosts were previously consecrated at a Mass earlier Sunday and held in reserve for distribution in the upper portions of the stadium.

No sooner had the deacon announce that the Mass was ended when the crowds broke into loud cheers, whistles, and shouts of “I love you, Benedict,” while waving their scarves in the air.

Truly Pope Benedict XVI hit a home run at Yankee Stadium. From the reports received of the other venues of the Pontiff’s whirlwind tour of New York and Washington, the trip was a home run as well.



The welcome message from Edward Cardinal Egan:

Most Holy Father, welcome to New York!

Your pastoral visit is for all of us gathered here this afternoon an immense blessing for which we are truly and deeply grateful.

Two hundred years ago this month, your wise and heroic predecessor of happy memory, Pope Pius VII, elevated the Diocese of Baltimore, the only Diocese in the nation at the time, to the dignity of an Archdiocese and created within its Metropolitan Province four Suffragan Sees. They were Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, which is now Louisville.

All four have since become Archdioceses and, along with Baltimore, are engaged in Bicentennial Celebrations which, in the providence of God, culminate most fittingly with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered by the Vicar of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, here in our midst. For your visit and your leading us in this Eucharist, Most Holy Father, we express our humble and heartfelt gratitude.

With us on this splendid and grace-filled occasion are cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and faithful from all 195 dioceses and archdioceses of the United States of America. They represent an extraordinary variety of races and ethnic backgrounds, all united in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of which you are the Supreme Shepherd.

They are joined by clergy and laity of many faiths and communions, political leaders, and men, women, and children from every corner of this land. It is an extraordinary privilege to be allowed to tell you on their behalf what a splendid and deeply appreciated grace your presence is for all of us.

Most Holy Father, we have read with pleasure and gratitude your most recent Encyclical Letter, “Saved by Hope.” It sets the theme for this Eucharist, “Christ, Our Easter Hope,” and points out most tellingly the path we need to follow with unlimited trust and confidence in the Lord over the years that lie ahead. Thank you most sincerely for that Encyclical and for all that you have said, written, and done over the past three years as Successor of Saint Peter to deepen our faith and strengthen our commitment to live as the Lord has taught us to live.

Finally, Most Holy Father, allow me to add that we in New York feel especially blessed by your coming among us in our Cathedral, at our seminary, in one of our parish churches, before the world community at the United Nations, and in Lower Manhattan at what we have come to call “Ground Zero,” a place of tragedy hallowed by your concern and prayer.

Please know that your visit inspires and heightens in the hearts of all of us that “life-changing and life-sustaining hope” about which you wrote in your Encyclical Letter with such depth and learning. We pray for the Bishop of Rome, the Supreme Pontiff, and the Vicar of Christ; and we promise to continue that prayer throughout the years that lie ahead with ever-greater love and hope.

Most Holy Father, welcome!


The Homily from Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus tells his Apostles to put their faith in him, for he is "the way, and the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). Christ is the way that leads to the Father, the truth which gives meaning to human existence, and the source of that life which is eternal joy with all the saints in his heavenly Kingdom. Let us take the Lord at his word! Let us renew our faith in him and put all our hope in his promises!

With this encouragement to persevere in the faith of Peter (cf. Lk 22:32; Mt 16:17), I greet all of you with great affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his cordial words of welcome in your name. At this Mass, the Church in the United States celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the creation of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville from the mother See of Baltimore. The presence around this altar of the Successor of Peter, his brother bishops and ...
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

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