By Ed Wilkinson and Currents News
To see in the flesh the first pope from the Western Hemisphere was a thrill. Nine and a half years later, as we mourn the death of Pope Francis, the images of the Holy Father in New York still reverberate in our memory. It was a special moment for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, 2015, Pope Francis made his first visit to New York City. Because he was landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, the Diocese of Brooklyn had the honor of greeting him. As is the custom, the bishop of the diocese where the Holy Father arrives for a visit has the privilege of being the first to welcome him.
So, there was Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, at JFK, waiting at the foot of the rolling staircase from which the pope descended from the American Airlines Boeing 777 that brought him from Washington, D.C, after a three-day stop in Cuba.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio greets Pope Francis as he arrives in New York City.
I was standing on the tarmac not far away, one of two photographers who had special access to Pope Francis during his arrival. The other was from the Associated Press. For security reasons, the press was in place for several hours before the plane’s touchdown. We passed the time milling around the area, snapping photos of the early arrivals — the special guests chosen to greet the Holy Father.
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Hundreds of lucky people from Brooklyn and Queens were selected to receive tickets to see the pope as he began his three-day visit to New York City and the United Nations. As word spread that the papal plane was near, the excitement built. The plane landed on a specially designated runway near the back of the airport — touching down right in front of the crowd and taxiing out of sight before being brought back to a remote hangar. A few minutes passed before the plane rolled back into view.
On either side of the cockpit were the flags of the United States and Vatican City State. The plane came to a stop in front of those gathered, who were waving flags and calling out greetings to their special guest. The press traveling with the pope alighted from the back door of the aircraft. Down the front stairway came various Vatican officials. Then, Pope Francis, in his white cassock, appeared in the doorway. He waved and slowly descended the steps to the cheers and waves.
Bishop DiMarzio stepped forward and warmly shook hands with the Holy Father — Snap. Cardinal Timothy Dolan embraced the pope with a fraternal hug — Snap. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the pope’s permanent observer to the United Nations, was next with his welcome — Snap.
Pope Francis greets the crowd at JFK airport, with New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan (right) following behind.
From there, one by one, Pope Francis was greeted on a reception line that included local bishops and members of the diocesan curia.
I was recording significant moments in the history of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
A small group of students from Catholic schools in the diocese presented the Holy Father with flowers. Pope Francis spoke individually to each one, lifting them up and patting each of them on the head.
He made his way to the crowd gathered under a large banner that read “Welcome Holy Father to the Diocese of Brooklyn.” He had special moments with Gerard Gubatan, a patient in a hospital bed from Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, and special needs students who had been selected to greet him.
The Xaverian High School band from Bay Ridge played “New York, New York” the whole time.
The helicopter that would fly Pope Francis out of the JFK Airport in Queens in the Diocese of Brooklyn and into Manhattan, continuing his papal trip to New York City.
Pope Francis was then driven to a green-and-white military helicopter with the words United States of America emblazoned on its side. At the same time, other Church leaders, including administrators from the diocese, were escorted to other helicopters.
Up, up, and away, the small convoy of flying machines lifted and headed toward Manhattan.
The visit had begun.
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Pope Francis would go on to pray at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, lead prayers at an interfaith service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, visit a Catholic school in East Harlem, speak to the members of the United Nations General Assembly, drive in his popemobile through Central Park before a crowd of 80,000 people, and celebrate Mass with young people at a capacity-filled Madison Square Garden.
At the U.N., Pope Francis applauded the organization’s 70th anniversary and praised its work for peace and justice.
“War is the negation of all rights and a dramatic assault on the environment,” Pope Francis said. “If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and peoples.”
At the interfaith service with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and other Christians, Pope Francis said he felt “many different emotions standing here at ground zero, where thousands of lives were taken in a senseless act of destruction.”
“Here, grief is palpable,” he said.
Later that evening, he celebrated Mass for 20,000 young people.
Pope Francis celebrating Mass at Madison Square Garden.
“The people have seen a great light,” Pope Francis said in his homily, delivered in Spanish. “The people who walked with all their dreams and hopes, their disappointments and regrets, the people have seen a great light … a light meant to shine on every corner of this city, on our fellow citizens, on every part of our lives.”
Only blocks from Madison Square Garden, DeSales Media sponsored a huge mural image of the Holy Father on the side of a building. “Welcome Pope Francis,” it proclaimed for all of New York City to see.
On Saturday morning, Oct. 26, it fell to the Diocese of Brooklyn to see Pope Francis off from JFK for his flight to Philadelphia to attend the World Meeting of Families. A small group of diocesan representatives stood beneath the same banner that welcomed the pope to the city. They
watched as he arrived by helicopter and then walked the short distance to the waiting plane, waving to those gathered.
Before boarding, he greeted a few members of the Sisters Adorers of the Sacred Heart, an Argentine-based community of sisters who minister in the Diocese of Brooklyn. They presented him with a special drinking straw that was native to Argentina, his homeland.
The Holy Father moved along a reception line of bishops and bid each farewell. As he began to ascend the stairs, he reached over for one last handshake with Vincent LeVien, external affairs director for DeSales Media.
As the plane started toward the runway for takeoff, a line of bishops and diocesan officials waved enthusiastically. Pope Francis’ one and only trip to New York had come to an end. It was time to bid him adieu!