In his sermon before 18,000 gathered at the arena, the pontiff praised big cities to “a reminder of the hidden riches present in our world”.
Advertisement
The Vatican later said his declaration that the environment itself has rights was a new development in the church’s social teaching.
Dr. Keating is confident that Pope Francis will live up to his expectations, “He is transformative. I mean this is the first time a pope has come to New York”, Nieto said.
Pope Francis spent an emotionally-charged day in New York yesterday from morning prayers at the 9/11 Memorial to a drive past adoring masses thronging Central Park. Yorro has been cancer-free since June and said winning the lotto to see the pontiff was “a sign”. “Because of the sheer number of people we are going to have to protect”, Bratton said.
In what has perhaps become his most famous remark, Francis said early in his papacy of gay priests, “Who am I to judge?”
One key aspect here is promoting education for all, Fr. Pollard explained, but with the primacy of the family in mind.
Students at Our Lady Queen of Angels show Pope Francis how to use a touchscreen in their lesson on taking care of the Earth.
New York marks the second USA city he has traveled to, and the third day of his US tour.
A few hours before Francis arrived at Kennedy Airport, Iluminada Gubatan received word that she and her ailing 27-year-old son, Garard, would be among about 200 people allowed to greet the pope on the tarmac.
“He’s preaching the same values that were taught in my classroom-to be men and women for others”, Colazzo said.
Denise Villasenor, a 27-year-old Columbia University graduate student from the Philippines and a Catholic, practiced capturing a selfie with the pope ahead of the procession.
The 58-year-old came away “torn” because Francis was surrounded by politicians and security and she could barely see him. “Let there be peace on earth”, the choir sang, “and let it begin with me”.
“Americans tend to think that if you get a new guy in there… he just he reverses what the old guy did”.
Hordes of young children and teenagers held out a sea of iPhones and cameras outside Lady Queen of Angels as they snapped selfies of themselves with His Holiness. “Wake up, wake up”, says the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church to listeners.
“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation”.
HARI SREENIVASAN: The pope also visited a Catholic school in East Harlem this afternoon, then motorcaded through Central Park, where up to 80,000 people looked on.
As he examined it, Kayla Osborne asked him if he would like to try it.
Francis tinkered with a touch-screen application created by the children on a large monitor – moving items around a digitally rendered river. The audience included dignitaries, members of religious orders and everyday Catholics who won tickets through their local parishes. ‘It’s attractive to have dreams.
The single, which debuted on RollingStone.com Friday, features rousing, albeit soft-spoken pleas such as “The Lord speaks of a responsibility that the Lord gives you”.
The pope offered a strong endorsement of Iran’s agreement with the United States and five other world powers to limit its nuclear programme, a day after Francis spoke to the US Congress, where many lawmakers vehemently oppose the deal.
Advertisement
He leaves the city on Saturday for Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.
