Apr 19, 2008 11:01 pm US/Eastern
Pope To Hold Private Service At Ground Zero Sunday
Plans To Pray For Victims, Families, First Responders & Terrorists
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
On Sunday, the final day of his trip, Pope Benedict XVI will visit Ground Zero to honor those who died on 9/11. Family members of several victims will join the pope for the private service.
Praying and blessing the sacred ground at the World Trade Center site is being called the 'emotional high point' of the pontiff's visit to the United Sates.
Papal flags and new white canopies mark the spot where the pope will enter Ground Zero to stand in solidarity with the family members of 9/11 victims, survivors of the attack and first responders.
Jean Palombo plans to attend the service Sunday. Her husband, firefighter Frank Palombo, was killed on 9/11.
"They never found anything from his body so that's his resting place and the pope is going there to bless his resting place and that's incredible," said Palombo.
The pope will be joined by 23 people for the private service: 15 relatives of 9/11 victims, four survivors, and four First Responders. There will be prayers for the victims, prayers for the families, prayers for New York and prayers for the terrorists.
Grace, conversion, and forgiveness are absolutely necessary said 9/11 widow Linda Litto of Staten Island.
"We need to pray not only for ourselves and for the souls that were lost but for the terrorists even," said Litto. "Pray for them to see the light -- that we are not evil people we just want to live in Peace."
Litto's husband Vincent was an executive at Cantor Fitzgerald. The 9/11 terrorist attack was the day before their 26th wedding anniversary.
A vigil was held Saturday at Ground Zero to honor the memory of Fire Chaplain Mychal Judge. The vigil's organizer Brendan Fay said, "He was a man of peace who is a beacon of light during some of the darkest days of this city for many people during the aids crisis."
Organizers of that vigil say Father Judge's sister will be with the Pope Benedict Sunday morning. The Pope is also expected to say a blessing for the thousands of workers who became ill after breathing toxic air at this site.
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