What is it that draws so many people to appearances by the
pope? Even in jaded New York, thousands lined Fifth Avenue
Saturday, waiting for hours just to catch a brief glimpse of the
popemobile as Pope Benedict XVI traveled north to Yonkers and a
youth rally at St. Joseph's Seminary. It was while thinking about
this rally and waiting for his visit to ground zero yesterday
that the answer dawned on me: People do not revere the man so
much as the message of hope, unity, and inspiration for all
mankind that he delivers as the Vicar of Christ.
Every presidential election year, the nation is practically torn
asunder and polarized by the negative campaigning that forces
Americans to take sides depending on their race, ethnicity,
and/or economic status. Yet this past weekend, there was a mood
of optimism and peace. As one woman who traveled from Bethlehem,
Pa., put it: "It's like one big giant family here coming
together in peace and harmony."
That feeling of unity struck me as I was watching a telecast of
the pope's historic visit to the Park East Synagogue on Friday.
As Benedict walked up the aisle, the crowd sang "Heiveinu
Shalom Aleichem." This is the song I hear during Spanish
evening Mass at my parish, only the words are: "La paz este
con nosotros." The song is sung in various languages around
the world, and the sentiment of "peace be with us" is
universal.
Perhaps the most powerful impact of the papal visit is felt by
those whose lives have been stricken with sorrow, for he conveys
a message of hope and love. At the youth rally in Yonkers, Ebi
Ogbu, 22, gave the welcoming speech. Benedict then arose from his
seat and held out his hands to hers, and as he touched her
forehead with his, I could see her shoulders shake with emotion.
What joy it must have given her parents, who emigrated from
Nigeria, to see their daughter bond with the leader of their
strong Catholic faith. They lost their eldest son, Adam, when he
died during Special Forces training in Texas in 2000. He was just
19 and one of the nicest young men I ever knew. The family's loss
was painful and prolonged, but Ms. Ogbu told me that when the
pope put his head to hers, "it was so unexpected. I was
amazed. It felt warm and peaceful. What a great experience."
Yesterday, the pontiff held a private prayer service at ground
zero. He personally greeted 24 individuals who represented
survivors, first responders, and family members of the victims of
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
My friend Kathy Curatolo, whose brother Robert was a firefighter
who perished that day, stood very near the spot where her
brother's body was recovered.
She described Benedict as being very grandfatherly. "John
Paul II was very charismatic, but when you look into this pope's
eyes, there's a silent strength there which I can only say is
unbelievable. He's a very compassionate man," Ms. Curatolo
said. She went on to describe how Edward Cardinal Egan introduced
each guest to the pope and related their connection to ground
zero. Ms. Curatolo wore a picture of her brother on her lapel.
The pope gently touched it and said, "Your brother,"
which brought her to tears. "After 9/11, my family turned
away from God," Ms. Curatolo told me. "They said, 'How
could God let this happen?' I went the other way. I felt that it
was the absence of God that allowed the evil of 9/11. The visit
of Pope Benedict to ground zero shows that faith, hope, and
charity will always conquer evil."
After the pope departed, the visitors were given metal crosses
made from materials from the fallen towers, commemorative
candles, papal rosaries, and medallions. I was so grateful to
have Ms. Curatolo there to fill me in on her experience, because
I was stuck on Church and Liberty streets near some protesters
with crude signs attacking the pontiff.
It's no surprise that the security detail opted for another route
for the popemobile. Ms. Curatolo said that at the Secret Service
briefing, the visitors were informed that security for the pope
is five times that for the president. Police snipers stood guard
on the rooftops.
One can only feel pity for those who do not recognize a messenger
of peace and love. It doesn't matter if it's a Roncalli, a
Wojtyla, or a Ratzinger who wears the white robes and mitre; it's
the words that will always resonate in our hearts. It's not the
singer, it's the song.