Pope Francis, speaking at New York’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, has
expressed “closeness” with the world’s Muslims after more than 700
pilgrims were killed in a stampede outside the Islamic holy city of
Mecca.
Aljazeera reports:
Speaking during a packed evening prayer service on
Thursday, the pope said he wanted to express “my sentiments of closeness
in the face of the tragedy that their people suffered today in
Mecca.” “In this moment of prayer, I unite myself with you all in prayer
to God, our father, all powerful and merciful.”
The Argentine pope had earlier arrived in the melting pot of New York
after reminding the US of its immigrant origins in the first ever papal
speech before Congress.
Over an intense 40 hours, beginning with the prayer service at St
Patrick’s Cathedral, the pope will address world leaders at the UN,
participate in an interfaith service at the September 11 memorial museum
at Ground Zero, and celebrate mass at Madison Square Garden.
Thousands of people had lined New York’s streets on the route leading
to the recently spruced up cathedral, to greet the popular pontiff.
They cheered, waved flags and adoringly chanted his name.
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