Cardinal says pope to interact with as many New Yorkers as possible

NEW YORK -- Although security will be tight and tickets limited by the size of the venues that will host Pope Benedict XVI, careful arrangements have been made to allow him to interact with as many New Yorkers as possible during the visit, said Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York. The cardinal made the comments in a recent hourlong interview with Catholic New York, the archdiocesan newspaper, at his residence.

The pope will be in Washington April 15-17 and in New York April 18-20. One of those "close-up" opportunities with him will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where people will be on the steps awaiting his arrival April 19. Cardinal Egan, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and cathedral rector Msgr. Robert T. Ritchie will greet the pontiff's car and walk with him up the steps to the main bronze doors, where he likely will turn to wave and offer a blessing to the crowds gathered on nearby streets before entering the cathedral.

© 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops