Pope May God Bless America!, by Vicky Hollowell and Jay Sorgi, WTMJ, April 21, 2008

Pope: " May God Bless America!"

By Vicky Hollowell and Jay Sorgi
WTMJ
April 21, 2008

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/17967449.html

The Pope is back in Rome this morning after nearly a week in Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Before leaving, the pope declared: "May God bless America!"

And most pilgrims from Milwaukee have either traveled halfway across America to come back to the Brew City, or are on their way.

Pope Benedict XVI at Yankee Stadium.
Photo by AP

Pope's Sunday in New York

Pope Benedict XVI took an emotional Sunday journey, beginning his day at Ground Zero of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the site of what was the World Trade Center.

"My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory as I continue to pray for those who died, and for all who suffer in consequence of the tragedy," said the Pontiff.

Pope Benedict XVI then celebrated Mass and American Catholicism in storied Yankee Stadium on Sunday, telling his massive U.S. flock to use its freedoms wisely.

Benedict beamed before a joyous crowd of 57,000 worshippers who filled the seats, chanting, clapping and waving white and yellow handkerchiefs in the Vatican's colors as the white popemobile pulled in.

He called the Mass "a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations."

And he repeated a core message of his six-day pilgrimage -- that faith must play a role in public life, citing the need to oppose abortion, part of his overall message of human rights which he offered during many of his speeches with the President, the United Nations and other locations.

The unwavering truth of the Roman Catholic message, he said, guarantees respect for the dignity of all, "including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb." The crowd applauded the line.

At the end of the service the German-born Benedict again processed out slowly, serenaded by the strains of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

Finally, he took off from New York City in a final ceremony hosted by Vice President Dick Cheney, also attended by former President Bill Clinton and presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Milwaukeeans Hear Message On Abuse

Much of the Holy Father's message this weekend also had to do with advocating that the Church reconcile with victims of abuse at the hands of clergy and other church staff.

The pope met with victims on his visit, and spoke out about healing old wounds.

"Today, I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt," said the Pontiff.

Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan made a point to hear the Pontiff's message first hand.

"He said, 'Let's not deny this,' " said Dolan.

"It's a terrible cancer in the mystical body of Christ. We need to own up to this, we need to apologize and continue effective outreach to victims.

"He said, 'Bishops, keep at it. Don't think that this is some project to settle in a couple years, and forget about it. No, keep at it.' "

Mark Salmon, from Wauwatosa, is one of those abuse victims whom the Pope asks the Church to serve.

"I was abused by a Catholic grade school teacher who had a history of abuse as a seminarian," said Salmon, who is now an advocate for others.

Salmon said he found hope in Pope Benedict's words, and that church leaders in Milwaukee heed the message.

"I was quite pleased with the Pope," states Salmon. "I thought he did a real good job of taking this head on.

"I hope that the bishops, particularly our Archbishop, heeds his words and goes after this and resolves this issue with every victim of sexual abuse."