Apr 16, 2008 11:15 pm US/Eastern
Baltimore Church Honors Pope Benedict
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
The long wait is over. The Pope is in the United States and spreading his message of hope.
For many, this is the high point of their spiritual lives. People waited for hours just to glimpse the Pope as he rode through the streets of Washington, D.C. Wednesday.
Kathryn Brown reports parishioners lined the streets of Washington, D.C. and played music, hoping for a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI.
Sister Margaret traveled to see the Pope from Pasadena.
"I'm hoping I will leave here uplifted spiritually with new energy," she said.
Many here will stay for the papal Mass at Nationals Park on Thursday.
In Baltimore, bells rang and prayers were said for the Pope.
At Saint Benedict Church, parishioners prayed every hour on the hour. It's the only Catholic parish in the Baltimore archdiocese named after St. Benedict, the same saint for whom the Pope is named.
"We're praying for a successful visit so that Pope Benedict will reach into our hearts, into our souls, help us change," said Susan Nitsch.
"Prayer is just so important. I don't think we could survive without it, so I just think that just makes his visit better," said Theresa Young.
The Pope comes to the U.S. with a message of hope.
"There are so many Catholic young people and old who are coming to see him. He's a figure of Christ, and so it's a message of hope," said Patricia Basil.
Many of the Benedictine monks will be attending the papal Mass. For some, it's the opportunity of a lifetime.
"We're very excited about the Pope coming. It's a real blessing for us that he comes and is going to spend time here, especially in the Baltimore Archdiocese because it's the oldest in the country," said Father Paschal Morlino.
Jade Young, 10, wants nothing more than to be at Thursday's Mass. She can't go, but she'll be there in spirit.
"I pray that he helps people believe in God and that he gets people to just start praying because it's good to pray," she said.
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