Pope Benedict XVI Visits the United States

Photo slideshow highlighting Pope Benedict XVI's trip
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Full listing of speaches from the Apostolic Journey to the United States of America and visit to the United Nations Organization Headquarters

To view the complete text from all of Pope Benedict XVI's speaches from his visit to the United States, please click on the link below which will direct you to the Vatican's web site.
Vatican Web site

Pope tells bishops in Washington: ‘Religion not just a private affair’

Washington, D.C. (Zenit) — Faith should permeate every aspect of life, Pope Benedict XVI told the bishops of the United States as he addressed them April 16 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here.
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Participating in arrival ceremony for pope was a ‘remarkable experience’

Laura Cassell, chief executive officer ofdiocesan Catholic Charities, found being part of the official United States arrival ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI at the White House a “remarkable experience.”
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Papal Mass at Nationals Park:
A student’s heart filled with hope in a stadium filled with love and affection

On April 17, 2008 I had the privilege of attending the papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. I was one of the 225 blessed students from the Catholic University of America chosen from a lottery to attend a Mass celebrated by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
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Catholic learning institutions must ‘reverberate’ with faith

Washington (CNS and CNA) — Pope Benedict XVI urged U.S. Catholic educators April 17 not to simply transmit knowledge to their students but to bring them to a deeper understanding of faith “which in turn nurtures the soul of a nation.”
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Pope affirmed, challenged Catholic educators

I was privileged to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s address on Catholic education, given to Catholic college presidents and superintendents of Catholic schools at Catholic University of America on Thursday, April 17. Full Story

Pope deplores abuse, praises reforms, seeks to heal victims

Washington, D.C. (Zenit and CNS) — Shortly before meeting with victims of priestly sexual abuse, Pope Benedict XVI, in his homily at the April 17 Mass at Nationals Stadium here, addressed the scandal for the third time in as many days.
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Praying for vocations

Huntington — On the eve of the pope’s youth rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, seminarians, men discerning a call to the priesthood, college students and others who support vocations gathered at the chapel of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception here to pray for vocations.
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Heroes and courage

Huntington — Father Brian Barr, diocesan vocations director, thanks God for sending heroes. He talked about heroes and courage in a reflection during the Holy Hour for vocations at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception here April 18.
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Pre-papal youth rally
Teens evangelize teens

Rockville Centre — It was part performance night, part prayer service, part catechesis, and part rock concert, but it was all a celebration of faith at the pre-papal youth rally at St. Agnes Cathedral here April 18.
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Pope: Human rights critical to advancing common good

New York (CNS and Zenit) — Pope Benedict put human rights squarely at the center of the United Nations’ work to promote the common good, as he addressed the UN General Assembly here April 18.
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Students greet Pope at JFK

Rockville Centre — Even after a long morning of traveling and standing and waiting, the Catholic school students from the Rockville Centre Diocese who were lucky enough to be picked to greet Pope Benedict XVI when he arrived at Kennedy Airport April 18 were still bursting with excitement when they arrived back at the St. Agnes Cathedral parish center here after their papal encounter Friday.
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Pope tells youth: authentic freedom rooted in truth of Christ

Yonkers (Combined News Sources) — Contrasting his own youth with theirs, Pope Benedict XVI urged some 25,000 young people here to “opt in” to the hope of authentic freedom and truth in order to “dispel the darkness” that exists in the world today.
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‘It was so unbelievably amazing ... like being in heaven’

Rose Sullivan, vocation program coordinator for the diocese, said for her “it was like being in heaven.”
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Holy Father invites disabled children to be signs of hope

Yonkers (CNA) — Warmly embracing 50 young people with disabilities and their families here April 19, Pope Benedict told them that God’s unconditional love for them “points to a meaning and purpose for all human life.”
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Act as ‘beacons of hope,’ Holy Father tells priests, deacons, religious

New York (Combined news sources) — “Let us be joyful witnesses of the transforming power of the Gospel,” Pope Benedict XVI urged more than 3,000 priests, religious and deacons gathered for the first papal Mass in the history of St. Patrick’s Cathedral here April 19.
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Pope makes time to pay homage to U.S. theologian Cardinal Dulles

Washington (CNS) — During his whirlwind April 15-20 U.S. visit, Pope Benedict XVI took a few moments out of his demanding schedule for a private meeting with one of America’s pre-eminent theologians, the ailing, 89-year-old Cardinal Avery Dulles.
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‘Hope is the new four-letter word ...’ Youth react to Pope

Hundreds of young people from the Diocese of Rockville Centre were among those lucky enough to join Pope Benedict XVI at a youth rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers on April 19 as part of the papal visit to New York. Here, some of them share their thoughts on the experience.
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‘B16’ hits Yankee Stadium homer

Their trip to Yankee Stadium to see Pope Benedict XVI was a tiring, all-day affair, commented Carey Persico of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Massapequa Park, but “it’s something that we’ll always remember.
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Pope: ‘Follow faithfully in footsteps of those who have gone before’

New York (Combined News Services) — At Yankee Stadium, transformed into an open-air church April 20, Pope Benedict XVI urged more than 57,000 Catholics to “move forward with firm resolve” in continuing the legacy of faith set in motion by the country’s first Catholics.
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The lucky ones — getting ready for stadium

Long Island Catholics lucky enough to win tickets for the papal Mass at Yankee Stadium gathered early Sunday morning at various sites throughout the diocese where they would board buses to take them to the stadium.
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‘Prayerful, holy day ...’ Locals respond to Yankee Stadium Mass

“It was such an amazing experience. Everyone says the pope is the closest thing to God; and not that many people get to be that close to him. The pope was very charismatic, and he spoke very well..."
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Prayers and healing at ground zero

New York — As it neared the site of a memorial service at ground zero for victims, survivors and rescue workers of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks last Sunday, the popemobile suddenly stopped.
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Father Zientarski moved by sense of unity with worldwide Church at Mass

The sun was shining brightly, but even more radiant was the Holy Spirit in the people gathered around the pope at Nationals Park. People were ecstatic to see the pope and to be in his presence.
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‘Marvelous reverence’ impresses local deacon

Rockville Centre Deacon Thomas Rich is currently working toward a doctorate in canon law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was one of more than 300 deacons who distributed Communion at the papal Mass at Nationals Park April 17.
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50th anniversary celebration

Merrick — Father Zachary Callahan, a retired priest in residence at Curé of Ars Church here, will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a priest at the 11:15 a.m. Mass April 27 at Curé of Ars.
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50 Years as a Diocese

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