Note: This item first appeared when Pope Banedict XVI visited the United States and the United Nations. It is reissued as a tribute to Pope Benedict and the power of faith as a spiritual guide in a rapidly evolving world.

Press Officers in the Department of Public Information at the United Nations write on-the-spot press releases available to the world on the web. Few outside the UN read the releases but when Pope Benedict XVI came to address the General Assembly in April 2008, the Holy Trinity Hungarian Church in East Chicago, Indiana asked one Press Officer to describe the experience of seeing the world’s spiritual leader interact with the world’s leaders.

The Pope’s visit was very exciting, she said.  The vast Assembly Hall was filled to capacity. A few thousand people waited for him to arrive, all buzzing with anticipation above and beyond the usual rustle of an important world leader appearing.  When the announcement was made that the Pope was near, people got very quiet and turned to watch him walk up from the back in his red Prada shoes, accompanied by two bishops and UN security staff. The air was much more solemn than usual as the Pope reached the dais and was greeted by the UN Secretary-General and the Assembly President. After they all shook hands, the Pope gestured out to the Assembly and  a protocol officer led the Pope to the white VIP chair at the side of the speaker’s podium.

Since the press officer was not Catholic, she didn’t know what the Pople gestures meant, but he seemed to be blessing the Assembly as he held out his hands and swept those assembled with his eyes. With all his greatness, he seemed very humble,. He seemed to understate his position, which reinforced the sense of being in the presence of gretness. He was more gentle than charismatic and the crowd was obviously awed, as if sending his presence. When he finally spoke, his words were powerful and thought provoking.

The Pope’s message was much the same as the ideas expressed daily at the UN, the press officer said.  But the way the Pople expressed those ideas had a solemn rhythm that suggested there was deeper meaning beyond the words. He spoke about  the need to protect people whose human rights were violated and that governments must not use state sovereignty as an excuse bad behavior in their countries. He talked about the need to help the very poor of the world, many of whom lived in Africa. So the message wasn’t that different but the way he talked about the issues in a religious context gave them impact. He was talking about a concept that at the UN was known as the responsibility to protect.  It was a shared responsibility to help those in need wherever they were, like those in Sudan who were being massacred, The responsibility also meant that governments must not be allowed to get away with mistreating their people. In the religious context and expressed at an elevated intellectual level, the message was striking caught your interest.

The Pope ended by blessing everyone in all six official UN languges, The Secretary-General and the Assembly President then wished him a happy birthday. That was a nice light touch to the powerful presentation.

Overall, the narrator summed up, the Pope at the UN seemed to command total and obvious respect. World leaders were open to his message. They were open to his message and responded with smiles and nods. Some people got very emotional. Most diplomats maintained their air of formality and decorum, but a few cried as the Pope spoke, along with many of the UN staff.  The feeling inside that grand hall seemed to go even beyond deep respect and closer to reverence.  The UN is used to Presidents and Prime Ministers. In person, they are very impressive. But a religious leader of the Pope’s stature was striking beyond mere secular power.

Catholics must have felt they’d seen  light, the non-Catholic press officer went on. But even as a non-Catholic Ishe said she felt she was in the presence of greatness, that the Pope was a very powerful person, one of the most learned people in the world. In that sense, the experience was awesome. The pomp of his garments and entourage certainly added to that sense. It’s only fitting that world-level leaders reinforce the message of their countries with the most splendid garb of their nations.  Overall, the Pope made a terrific impression on the UN and on New York City in general. He brought a spiritual depth to the city and it was very well received. That greater spiritual depth as a result of his visit was reflected right back to the Pople as he made his way around the city in his popemobile. Throngs cheered.

For a Catholic perspective on the Pope’s historic visit to the UN, a staff member snagged a seat at the  press office desk.  On first seeing the Pope walk up the aisle, she said she was struck by the sense that he was the person holding a position that was directly descended from the first Pope, St. Peter, who founded the Catholic Church. The context of that long timeline lent new emphasis to the UN message. The philosophical edge  common themes made them profound and closely aligned. Both Catholicism and the UN had the common goals of helping people and doing good in the world.

Further, she said she was happy to see the Pope as warm within the formality of his role. When he extended hands to bless, his fingers fluttered with earnest feeling. In an address to a rally of young people the previous day, the Pope had shown real rapport with the kids who were obviously thrilled to be in his presence.  He kept looking out at them as with admiration, as if to let them know they were important to him because they were the future.

A Bird’s Eye View of the Pope at the UN

Note: This item first appeared when Pope Banedict XVI visited the United States and the United Nations. It is reissued as a tribute to Pope Benedict and the power of faith as a spiritual guide in a rapidly evolving world.

Press Officers in the Department of Public Information at the United Nations write on-the-spot press releases available to the world on the web. Few outside the UN read the releases but when Pope Benedict XVI came to address the General Assembly in April 2008, the Holy Trinity Hungarian Church in East Chicago, Indiana asked one Press Officer to describe the experience of seeing the world’s spiritual leader interact with the world’s leaders.

The Pope’s visit was very exciting, she said.  The vast Assembly Hall was filled to capacity. A few thousand people waited for him to arrive, all buzzing with anticipation above and beyond the usual rustle of an important world leader appearing.  When the announcement was made that the Pope was near, people got very quiet and turned to watch him walk up from the back in his red Prada shoes, accompanied by two bishops and UN security staff. The air was much more solemn than usual as the Pope reached the dais and was greeted by the UN Secretary-General and the Assembly President. After they all shook hands, the Pope gestured out to the Assembly and  a protocol officer led the Pope to the white VIP chair at the side of the speaker’s podium.

Since the press officer was not Catholic, she didn’t know what the Pople gestures meant, but he seemed to be blessing the Assembly as he held out his hands and swept those assembled with his eyes. With all his greatness, he seemed very humble,. He seemed to understate his position, which reinforced the sense of being in the presence of gretness. He was more gentle than charismatic and the crowd was obviously awed, as if sending his presence. When he finally spoke, his words were powerful and thought provoking.

The Pope’s message was much the same as the ideas expressed daily at the UN, the press officer said.  But the way the Pople expressed those ideas had a solemn rhythm that suggested there was deeper meaning beyond the words. He spoke about  the need to protect people whose human rights were violated and that governments must not use state sovereignty as an excuse bad behavior in their countries. He talked about the need to help the very poor of the world, many of whom lived in Africa. So the message wasn’t that different but the way he talked about the issues in a religious context gave them impact. He was talking about a concept that at the UN was known as the responsibility to protect.  It was a shared responsibility to help those in need wherever they were, like those in Sudan who were being massacred, The responsibility also meant that governments must not be allowed to get away with mistreating their people. In the religious context and expressed at an elevated intellectual level, the message was striking caught your interest.

The Pope ended by blessing everyone in all six official UN languges, The Secretary-General and the Assembly President then wished him a happy birthday. That was a nice light touch to the powerful presentation.

Overall, the narrator summed up, the Pope at the UN seemed to command total and obvious respect. World leaders were open to his message. They were open to his message and responded with smiles and nods. Some people got very emotional. Most diplomats maintained their air of formality and decorum, but a few cried as the Pope spoke, along with many of the UN staff.  The feeling inside that grand hall seemed to go even beyond deep respect and closer to reverence.  The UN is used to Presidents and Prime Ministers. In person, they are very impressive. But a religious leader of the Pope’s stature was striking beyond mere secular power.

Catholics must have felt they’d seen  light, the non-Catholic press officer went on. But even as a non-Catholic Ishe said she felt she was in the presence of greatness, that the Pope was a very powerful person, one of the most learned people in the world. In that sense, the experience was awesome. The pomp of his garments and entourage certainly added to that sense. It’s only fitting that world-level leaders reinforce the message of their countries with the most splendid garb of their nations.  Overall, the Pope made a terrific impression on the UN and on New York City in general. He brought a spiritual depth to the city and it was very well received. That greater spiritual depth as a result of his visit was reflected right back to the Pople as he made his way around the city in his popemobile. Throngs cheered.

For a Catholic perspective on the Pope’s historic visit to the UN, a staff member snagged a seat at the  press office desk.  On first seeing the Pope walk up the aisle, she said she was struck by the sense that he was the person holding a position that was directly descended from the first Pope, St. Peter, who founded the Catholic Church. The context of that long timeline lent new emphasis to the UN message. The philosophical edge  common themes made them profound and closely aligned. Both Catholicism and the UN had the common goals of helping people and doing good in the world.

Further, she said she was happy to see the Pope as warm within the formality of his role. When he extended hands to bless, his fingers fluttered with earnest feeling. In an address to a rally of young people the previous day, the Pope had shown real rapport with the kids who were obviously thrilled to be in his presence.  He kept looking out at them as with admiration, as if to let them know they were important to him because they were the future.