Priests reach out to the pope as he leaves the Mass at Yankee Stadium April 20. CNS PHOTO/ NANCY WIECHECT
“I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel, and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic country.”

Saman Hussain presents a gift to the pope during an interfaith gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington April 17. The book contains poetic verses from the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The verse presented to the pope by the young Mulsim woman emphasizes the encounter with God as light.. CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

A fan holds a sign greeting Pope Benedict XVI outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, where the pope later addressed the General Assembly April 18. CNS/Brian Snyder, Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI greets students at The Catholic University of America in Washington April 17 as he arrives for a meeting with Catholic educators. To his left is Vincentian Father David M. O’Connell, university president. CNS photos/Greg Tarczynski

“I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse.”

Student Russell Rutter presents a matzoh, or unleaved bread used for Passover, to Pope Benedict XVI while Rabbi Arthur Schneier looks on April 18 at the Park East Synagogue in New York. CNS PHOTO/GARY HERSHORN, REUTERS

Pope Benedict XVI walks with U.S. President George W. Bush to the Oval Office for a meeting at the White House in Washington April 16. CNS photo/Joshua Roberts

People wave wave white cloths and cheer as Pope Benedict XVI speaks during an April 20 Mass at Yankee Stadium in New York. CNS photo/Mike Crupi

“We need to reassess urgently the values under-pinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike. All have a part to play in this task — not only parents, religious leaders, teachers and catechists but the media and entertainment industries as well.”

Pope Benedict XVI speaks April 20 at the site of the former World Trade Center, which was destroyed by a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
CNS PHOTO/ETTORE FERRARI, REUTERS

“What is needed is a deeper search for ways of pre-empting and managing conflicts by exploring every possible diplomatic avenue, and giving attention and encourage-ment to even the faintest sign of dialogue or desire for reconciliation.”
 
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