WASHINGTON -- Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday urged Catholics in the United States "to heal every wound, to overcome every division and to inspire new life and freedom" as the world stands at the crossroads of promise and breakdown.
"Hope, hope for the future, is very much part of the American character," said Benedict, who celebrated his first public Mass in the United States since becoming pope in 2005. Forty-six thousand people crowded Nationals Park to see him.
"It is a time of great promise, as we see the human family in many ways drawing closer together and becoming ever more interdependent. Yet at the same time, we see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society."
The soft-spoken pontiff said Mass from a giant altar erected in center field. He and 15 cardinals concelebrating the Mass wore vivid red vestments as four choirs united in song.
"I am so full (with) tears of hope. I feel so connected to those who are here," said Loretta Hrabovsky, 71, of Ford City, who was among Catholics from Western Pennsylvania to attend. "I am so full of hope."
Benedict noted that waves of immigrants coming to the United States yearned for freedom and opportunity, yet some people have been overlooked.
"To be sure, this promise was not experienced by all inhabitants of this land; one thinks of the injustices endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves," the pope said.
He encouraged Catholics to foster healing among those who have been sexually abused by priests.
"No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention," the pope said.
Benedict said this week that he was deeply ashamed of the scandal and pledged better efforts to keep pedophiles from the priesthood. The pope yesterday encouraged Catholics to "love your priests and to affirm to them in the excellent work that they do."
"He never backed down; he never backed away; he tackled the tough issues," said the Rev. Jonathan Wisneski, a priest from the Diocese of Greensburg studying at Catholic University in Washington.
Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, formerly bishop of Pittsburgh, called the pope's visit "a moment of spiritual renewal," a message that hit home with teens from Western Pennsylvania who traveled by bus to attend the Mass. Many of them wore black and gold to be a visible presence in their seats on the first base side.
"The pope coming to Washington at this time is very significant and will make a tremendous impact on the church," said Alex Pazuchanics, 18, of Whitehall.
Benedict is the successor to the enormously popular John Paul II, and his visit comes in the wake of a generally favorable rating on his papacy. More than eight out of 10 Catholics are satisfied with his leadership, according to a new poll of American Catholics by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.
After the Mass, people greeted the pope like a rock star, cheering wildly and wanting to shake his hand and take his picture.
"They are connecting with this pope," said Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik, one of 250 bishops who concelebrated the Mass with Benedict.
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