And he finished his second day in New York by celebrating a rousing Mass for 19,000 people in Madison Square Garden.
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Pope Francis opened the Mass by saying, “We are in Madison Square Garden – a place synonymous with this city”.
The Catholic Pontiff who arrived the United Nations headquarters at about 2.30pm Nigerian time spoke vehemently against the depraving forces of capitalism to humanity. Many had to settle for catching a glimpse of him tooling around by motorcade in his black Fiat 500.
On another contentious subject, Francis advocated abolition of the death penalty in the US, an idea that enjoys support from lawmakers of both parties at the federal level.
“God is in the city”, he said in his homily, delivered in Spanish. The same grand jury indicted a priest who had overseen clergy for the archdiocese, Monsignor William Lynn.
The ovations contrasted sharply with the moment of silent prayer during the pope’s visit later in the day to ground zero for an interfaith tribute to the September 11 victims. An embrace which wants to take up, purify and elevate the dignity of his children.
“What are you going to do?” The atmosphere in the city has been electric this week, she said.
Holmes, 47, expressed optimism that Francis will move the church closer to accepting LGBT relationships. I dont feel as stigmatized. “I’m interested in the church”.
First on the agenda was a visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, set amid public housing in the heavily Hispanic neighbourhood of East Harlem.
In every city, Francis has been greeted by throngs of cheering, weeping well-wishers, hoping for a glance or a touch from the wildly popular spiritual leader.
“I hope that a miracle happens”, he said.
Jesus urges his disciples “to go out and meet others where they really are, not where we think they should be”, Pope Francis said.
“I’m an entrepreneur in America“, Thomas said. One woman, Marjorie Kane, whose father died, told CNN, “It’s honestly the first time I can recall being on this ground and feeling this peace and calm”.
I’m traveling with a group from Marion’s St. Mary Parish. Just last week he was in Dallas for a Cowboys’ game Sunday and a Donald Trump rally Monday.
These characteristics are not only part of what has made America great, the Pope eloquently reminds us, they are also characteristics of Christ himself and constitute some of the fundamental principles of Christian love, compassion, and grace that are largely lost in the rancorous rhetoric of division, exclusion, discrimination, distrust, and hatred that is so prevalent in the world today.
Additionally, a bishop took the stage and gave a brief history of the papacy including a roll call of pope names, noting there had been “23 Johns, 12 Piuses, six Pauls, 14 Clements, but one Peter and one Francis”, which drew loud cheers.
For a 78-year-old, Pope Francis sure gets around.
EWTN: The Global Catholic Network is providing nonstop live coverage of the pope’s visit to the United States.
People have come from all over the world to be with the Holy Father. Some were eventually turned away, crying.
The pope – who says he hasn’t watched TV in decades and doesn’t know how to work a computer – even got a lesson in how to use a touchscreen from fourth-grader Kayla Osborne. “Immigration, the environment, it all comes to being compassionate, for others”. “He’s talking about immigrants”.
The National Guard was bringing in about 3,000 soldiers and airmen to help with traffic control. “It’s an opportunity to talk about that”.
At the Capitol, the remarkable sight of the pope speaking in the House chamber seemed to delight lawmakers of all persuasions, though he offered an agenda more to Democrats’ liking.
Standing against the Pope’s call for justice, equity, and peace is the division and hatred created when religion, ideology, or economic structures attack the integrity of the human spirit with various forms of “individual delusion or ideological extremism”. “Even though the crowd exploded in a roar, it was pure joy”.
Onstage, before the crowd, he placed his hand on her belly.
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“The crowd had an intensity, but it was a peaceful intensity”, she said.
