« Nurses strike averted at Butler Hospital | Today | Pope visit: He cites injustices to Native Americans »

April 17, 2008

Pope visit: Popemobile takes a drive around the field

AP photo
The popemobile passes the crowd at Washington Nationals stadium, where Pope Benedict XVI was celebrating Mass this morning.

WASHINGTON, DC -- At 9:34 this morning, the popemobile emerged through the gate in the green wall in center field of the Washington Nationals' baseball field to cheers from the sellout crowd.

The pope's wide-windowed white car rolled past the bullpen in left field, the third base line the visitors dugout, and around the diamond as the faithful waived their tiny yellow and white papal flags.

The smiling pontiff gestured repeatedly to the crowd, outstretched his arms and then blessed the faithful again and again, his right hand inscribing the sign of the cross.

The choir sang “Holy God We Praise Thy Name,” and thousands in the crowd joined in: "Holy god we praise thy name. Infinite thy vast domain everlasting is thy name."

In a special tribute to the Bavarian pontiff, the choir sang the third verse in German.

-- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington Bureau

AP photo
A procession of Catholic clergy walk onto the field to attend the Mass.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)