February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The pope, who arrived on U.S. soil Tuesday and will stay until Sunday, will be sung to by Derry singer Dana and tenor Ronan Tynan at Yankee Stadium where he is to say Mass on Sunday.
Benedict is also to meet with members of the Fighting 69th regiment at the stadium. Part of that unit is currently serving in Afghanistan.
The papal visit coincides with Benedict’s 81st birthday and a celebration is being organized for the pontiff in Washington D.C. by former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and Echo columnist, Ray Flynn (see Flynn column page 11).
Meanwhile, more than 50 disabled children will receive personal blessings from Pope Benedict on Saturday at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers.
“I am so pleased that Pope Benedict is meeting with children and young people with disabilities on his trip to the United States,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and the coordinator of the Yonkers event.
Meanwhile, one of the most emotional moments of the visit is certain to be the pope’s visit to Ground Zero in Manhattan on Sunday.