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Pope Benedict XVI Brings the Sunshine to Yankee Stadium |
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Thursday, 01 May 2008 |
Msgr. Francis Blood is the Director of the Archdiocesan Mission Office in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is a former missionary, serving in La Paz, Bolivia from 1988 to 1993.
 As I waited for hours on a blustery and cold April morning in Yankee Stadium, it was a struggle to stay warm. But once His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI arrived, the sun shone brilliantly and the cold day turned warmer.
As the Pope seemed visibly warmed by the enthusiastic welcome of 57,000 of us faithful, with our cheers and flags waved in the papal colors of gold and white, Pope Benedict’s smile and outstretched arms warmed our hearts, moved as we were by his fatherly affection.
To be in the presence of the Successor of St. Peter and the visible head of the Catholic Church worldwide is an awesome feeling. I have had that privilege many times, from my years as a seminarian in Rome for four years (1975-1979). I was also blessed to attend two events with Pope John Paul II in Saint Louis in January of 1999. More recently, I had attended a papal audience of Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican this past January 30th. Yet each time I have been blessed to see the Holy Father in person, it has been unforgettable and moving.
Pope Benedict XVI found ways to highlight what is good in the U.S.A. and in the Church, while also challenging us to be better. He frequently made references to new immigrants and also encouraged the young people to be open to Our Lord’s invitation to serve as a Priest or Religious.
Besides the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, I was in New York City for meetings of the National Board of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S.A. Those meetings took place at the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Manhattan, on April 21 and 22, the two days immediately after Pope Benedict XVI returned to Rome.
It was fitting to see the Holy Father and to attend meetings of the National Board of the Pontifical Mission Societies. These Societies include: the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association, the Society of St. Peter Apostle, and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
Because these Missionary Societies are pontifical, they are the Holy Father’s network of evangelization worldwide. They enable the Church to fulfill its missionary mandate from Jesus: “Go into the whole world, and proclaim the Gospel.” (Mk 16:15)
The visit of Pope Benedict XVI gives new impetus to our participation in the missionary work of Our Lord and to support missionaries through our prayers and sacrificial offerings. To find out more about how you can help, please visit the sections of our website that are devoted to each of the four Pontifical Mission Societies.
The attached photos show me seated with other members of the National Board as we awaited the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, and also show him in the Pope mobile as it passed in front of us.
Msgr. Blood (center) enjoys the Papal Mass with the
Pontifical Mission Societies group
Pontifical Mission Societies group
Pontifical Mission Societies group
The Pope mobile arrives in Yankee Stadium
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