Pope calls for a 'time for healing'

POPE BENEDICT XVI | Pontiff uses N.Y. mass to again comment on sex abuse scandal, but with words of encouragement

NEW YORK --Pope Benedict XVI once again mentioned the clergy sex abuse scandal that has morally and financially rocked the American Catholic Church. But his words were encouraging, rather than excoriating.

During his homily Saturday at the nearly 200-year-old St. Patrick's Cathedral on upscale 5th Avenue in Manhattan, Benedict spent the third anniversary of his Pontificate addressing more than 3,000 priests, deacons and other religious who packed the pews to pray with and receive blessings from their leader.

"I have already had occasion to speak of this, and of the resulting damage to the community of the faithful," Benedict said, referring to comments he made earlier in the week at several events in Washington D.C., where he prayed with abuse victims following mass at Nationals Park.

"Here I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents. I join you in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular Church and religious community, and a time for healing."

From Benedict's initial blessing of the church with holy water to his largely scripted oration, each aspect of the Eucharistic celebration was meticulously planned and implemented.

Any mid-celebration spontaneity came largely from worshipers, who snapped the Pontiff's photo with digital cameras and reached out to touch him and his vestments as he passed by. At various points throughout the mass they broke into extended applause and standing ovations. Their feelings of extreme good will were clear.

New York archbishop Cardinal Edward Egan gave voice to those feelings in his pre-mass welcome address that followed brief remarks by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"Please know that we clergy and religious together pledge to you our loyalty and our love," Egan told the pope.

As he presided over the mass, Benedict shared a sprawling altar with scores of bishops and archbishops. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago was among them.

"It was just a very, very happy time," George said of the event. "And St. Patrick's is such a gorgeous church and the music was well-done, so everything came together. I was very grateful to be there, but grateful to God for this occasion and for the pope himself."

George was equally taken by the crowds of people that lined the streets and gathered outside St. Patrick's in the hopes of glimpsing the Pontiff. "Their enthusiasm," he said, "prepares you to enter into the event itself."

Made all the more majestic by soaring ceilings, gothic architecture and intricate stained-glass windows, the mass also included stirring choir hymns and lush orchestral works by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and many others. There were polished solo performances as well, including one by Metropolitan Opera tenor Salvatore Licitra.

At the end, Benedict slowly made his way about the cathedral, smiling at and waving to his flock, many reciprocating.

"He's certainly very happy," George said of his boss. "At lunch after mass at the Cardinal's residence, it was clear that he was happy. He was relaxed. And tired. He's always a little tired. The jet lag doesn't wear off when you're a little older. It's hard. But he certainly knows that he's loved, and that has to be very encouraging for anyone."