Ground Zero blessing and stadium mass ends Pope's US visit

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in New York’s Yankee Stadium, telling his American flock to use its freedoms wisely as he ended his first papal trip to the US.

Benedict beamed before a joyous crowd of 57,000 last night, hours after making a solemn stop to pray at the site of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

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.

The unwavering truth of the Roman Catholic message, he said, guaranteed respect for the dignity of all, “including the most defenceless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother’s womb”.

Worshippers filled the seats, chanting, clapping and waving white and yellow handkerchiefs in the Vatican’s colours as the white popemobile pulled in. At the end of the service German-born Benedict again processed out slowly, serenaded by the strains of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

Outside the baseball stadium, two dump trucks filled with sand blockaded 161st Street before Mass, an extra level of security along with the heavy police presence. Pilgrims without tickets pushed up against metal police barricades, hoping to get a glimpse of the arriving pope.

Inside, ad-splashed outfield walls were draped in white with purple and yellow bunting. A white altar perched over second base, and the papal seal covered the pitcher’s mound, suspended by white and yellow ribbons.

New Orleans crooner Harry Connick Jr, on the pre-Mass concert programme, remarked that he was often asked if he was a practising Catholic.

“Practising?” he said. “I’m playing for the Pope today.”

Benedict seemed to enjoy his long journey to the altar in the popemobile, waving to people in the stands. From the altar, he stood to acknowledge the crowd’s roar when New York Cardinal Edward Egan welcomed him.

He praised the US church, which has 65 million members, in his homily, saying that “in this land of freedom and opportunity, the church has united a widely diverse flock” and contributed greatly to American society.

The Pope departed on a special airliner nicknamed “Shepherd One” after a farewell ceremony hosted by US vice president Dick Cheney, with Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and her husband, former US pesident Bill Clinton attending. “May God bless America!,” the Pope said before departing.

Earlier, on a chilly, grey morning, the Pope blessed the site of the terrorist attacks and pleaded with God to bring “peace to our violent world”.

The visit by Benedict to ground zero was a poignant moment in a trip marked by unexpectedly festive crowds.

Benedict was driven in the popemobile part-way down a ramp now used mostly by construction trucks to a spot by the north tower’s footprint. He walked the final steps, knelt in silent prayer, then rose to light a memorial candle.

Addressing a group that included survivors, clergy and public officials, he acknowledged the many faiths of the victims at the “scene of incredible violence and pain”.

The Pope also prayed for “those who suffered death, injury and loss” in the attacks at the Pentagon and in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. More than 2,900 people were killed in the four crashes of the airliners hijacked by al-Qaida.

“God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world,” the Pope prayed. “Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred.”

Benedict invited 24 people with ties to ground zero to join him: survivors, relatives of victims and four rescue workers. He greeted each member of the group individually as a string quartet played in the background. In his prayer, he also remembered those who, “because of their presence here that day, suffer from injuries and illness”.

New York deputy fire chief James Riches, father of a fallen September 11 firefighter, said the Pope’s visit gave him consolation.

“We said, ’Where was God?’ on 9/11, but he’s come back here today and they’ve restored our faith,” Mr Riches said.