Yankee Stadium Mass caps pope's final day in U.S.

BY JENNIFER SMITH | jennifer.smith@newsday.com

10:56 PM EDT, April 20, 2008

Bidding the nation farewell at Kennedy Airport, Pope Benedict XVI concluded his first papal visit to the United States last night by encouraging priests and others in the religious life "to continue bearing joyful witness to Christ our hope" and asking all Americans to pray for him.

The heartfelt ceremony capped a day that swung from the solemn contemplation of loss at Ground Zero to the galvanizing Mass at Yankee Stadium before 57,000 believers. At both iconic New York sites, the pontiff acknowledged life's sorrows but offered hope in the transformative power of faith.

"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," the pontiff said to an ardent crowd of 4,000 gathered in a cavernous hangar as darkness fell.

Earlier in the day, the pope celebrated a formal Mass -- the third papal Mass at Yankee Stadium -- that drew worshipers from across the country. Over nearly 21/2 hours, the service moved from soaring, operatic hymns to sung gospel readings and a Prayer for the Faithful in seven languages.

Benedict's upbeat homily reprised the six-day trip's themes of hope and unity, praising the achievements of American Catholicism while urging his flock to let faith suffuse every aspect of their lives.

"Today's celebration is more than an occasion of gratitude for graces received," the pope said. "It is also 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."

For an afternoon, Yankee Stadium was converted from a temple of baseball to a venue for sacraments of a higher order. Purple and gold bunting festooned outfield walls, and flagpoles that usually fly baseball flags instead bore papal standards. Dark cloths cloaked beer advertisements, just as workers covered a Ballantine beer ad before Pope Paul VI's visit there in 1965.

Congregants' wait for the 2:30 p.m. Mass was enlivened by performances from the Harlem Gospel Choir, José Feliciano and Harry Connick Jr., who leaned into a grand piano at home plate in a jazzy version of "How Great Thou Art."

Outside the stadium, Tim Schultheis of Keansburg, N.J., lifted a trumpet to his lips every few minutes to blare out gospel tunes.

"I play the horn for Jesus. It's the gift he gave me," said Schultheis, who had a green T-shirt with an image of Jesus on it. "The only thing worth playing is playing for the Lord. It's the only thing that lasts."

Inside, spirituality mixed with commerce. Nuns walked past children eating ice cream out of plastic Yankee helmets. Shoppers ignored baseball souvenirs and went straight for the rosary beads.

"Some people say once you see the pope you have good luck for the rest of your life," said Caitlin McNamara, 10, a fifth-grader at St. Mary's Elementary in Manhasset.

Sunbeams pierced gray clouds, and white doves were released from the stage, then the popemobile pulled into view, entering from leftfield. The crowd leapt to their feet, waving gold and white scarves.

Later, as Benedict put on his vestments for Mass, the crowd burst out in cheers.

Nods to the influx of Hispanic Catholics, whose presence has bolstered parishes across the region, were sprinkled throughout the ceremony. Introducing the pope, Cardinal Edward M. Egan, archbishop of New York, noted in Spanish that "The church has grown and benefited from the people of South America, Central America and the Caribbean."

For most of the Mass, the stadium atmosphere was as still and intense as it is with the score tied in the ninth inning. Every so often, the quiet in the stands was punctuated by someone yelling, "Viva el Papa!"

Although Benedict did not address the church sex abuse scandals at the Mass, he touched on two other hot-button issues, abortion and the role of religion in politics.

Eliciting fervent applause, the pontiff said that faith in Christ and his unchanging truths are the only things that "can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world -- including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb."

And the pope rejected "a false dichotomy between faith and political life."

That struck a chord with Williston Park Mayor Lud Odierna, 74, who watched from high above third base with his son Lud Jr., 35, a banker. Said the elder Odierna: "He touched on everything for the young, the old, the middle class, especially for me he told me to be truthful in my public and private life."

At Kennedy last night, Vice President Dick Cheney represented the nation at the papal send-off, which featured songs from around the world and recitations of the rosary in 23 languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Gaelic, Italian, Spanish, Arabic and Urdu.

"Pope Benedict XVI has stepped into the history of our country in a very special way," said Cheney. After a short speech, Benedict repaired to the papal jet, where he stood in the doorway and extended his arms in a last farewell.

Staff writers Bart Jones, Keith Herbert and Dave Marcus reported this story. It was written by Jennifer Smith.