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!
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