NEW YORK - 22 April 2008 - 320 word
America
bids farewell to Pope Benedict
At 8pm local time last night, the Pope arrived at New York's John
Fitzgerald Kennedy international airport at the end of his visit
to the United States. The farewell ceremony was held in the presence
of political and civil authorities; US cardinals; the President,
Vice-President and secretary general of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and 5,000 faithful from the diocese
of Brooklyn where the airport is located, led by Bishop Nicholas
DiMarzio.
Following a greeting pronounced by Vice-President Richard Cheney,
the Pope delivered the final address of his trip.
The Holy Father spoke of his "deep appreciation" for
the welcome he had received, thanking U.S. President Bush "for
kindly coming to greet me at the start of my visit, and ... Vice-President
Cheney for his presence here as I depart".
"Once again I offer prayerful good wishes to the representatives
of the see of Baltimore, the first archdiocese, and those of New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, in this jubilee year".
To his brother bishops and to "the officers and staff of
the episcopal conference who have contributed in so many ways
to the preparation of this visit", the Pope extended his
"renewed gratitude for their hard work and dedication. With
great affection I greet once more the priests and religious, the
deacons, the seminarians and young people, and all the faithful
in the United States, and I encourage you to continue bearing
joyful witness to Christ our Hope, our Risen Lord and Saviour,
Who makes all things new and gives us life in abundance".
The Holy Father identified "one of the high-points"
of his visit as "the opportunity to address the General Assembly
of the United Nations". In this context, he also thanked
Ban Ki-moon, U.N. secretary general, "for his kind invitation
and welcome".
Benedict XVI went on: "Looking back over the 60 years that
have passed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I
give thanks for all that the Organisation has been able to achieve
in defending and promoting the fundamental rights of every man,
woman and child throughout the world, and I encourage people of
good will everywhere to continue working tirelessly to promote
justice and peaceful co-existence between peoples and nations.
The visit to Ground Zero, said the Pope, "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 that occurred
there in 2001. For all the people of America, and indeed throughout
the world, I pray that the future will bring increased fraternity
and solidarity, a growth in mutual respect, and a renewed trust
and confidence in God, our heavenly Father.
"With these words, I take my leave, I ask you to remember
me in your prayers, and I assure you of my affection and friendship
in the Lord. May God bless America!"
The papal aircraft took off at 8.30pm local time (2.30am in Rome).
Following a flight of slightly more than eight hours, his plane
land at Rome's Ciampino airport at 10.45am today.
Source: VIS
© Independent Catholic News 2008
Contact Independent
Catholic News tel/fax:
+44 (0)20 7267 3616 or email
Chaplain • Latest news • Archive • Listings • Pictures •