The Papal Mass in DC: A Pictoral Journey
The stadium at 4am. Yes, it was a very long day. I was there for 12 hours.
A 4am Mass to consecrate the huge number of hosts for the Papal Mass.
Getting ready…
Beautiful Paschal candle in the santuary…
8.30am, concelebrating priests from archdiocese of Washington begin procession (visitors have been pre-seated)…
9am, it’s the turn of the bishops…
And what a great day it has become when they emerge onto the field!
Archbishop Wuerl welcomes the pope!
Here he comes, right past the third base dugout… he couldn’t be closer!
And now the papal procession begins… the servers are seminarians from the archdiocese of Washington.
The pope approaches the sanctuary…
..and is greeted by Archbishop Wuerl.
The pope is incensed during the offertory…
The pope listens to the cantors…
…and to Placido Domingo.
There goes Cardinal McCarrick!
And Cardinal George…
And Cardinal Mahony…
Then comes a beaming Archbishop Wuerl!
And finally, Pope Benedict, displaying Pius IX’s processional cross!
Wait a minute, he seems to have forgotten the popemobile!
Great pictures.
Many of mine turned out well, but they were from higher up, so from a different perspective.
Great pictures, I’m sure it was a great experience!
As a Pittsburgher, I miss Archbishop Wuerl. Good to see him in the pictures. He actually gave me a ride to the symphony once, whenever I was a seminarian in his diocese. The most disciplined man I have ever met…
Great pics! Thanks for sharing!
The pope is incensed during the offertory…
Why was he so mad? Because he knew they were using the Mass of Creation?
Oh… you mean… incense. ;)
Wonderful! Thank you!
MM: Thank you so much for these wonderful pictures! Very very very awesome that you got to be behind the scenes and experience the whole thing!
MM,
Beautiful!!! You were so close! You must be “high up” in the world :-P