Kelly Clarkson performs at a youth rally before the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at St.Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York, April 19. (CNS photo/Julie Jacobson, Reuters) (April 19, 2008)

2:00: Adam Prichard, 23, and Nick Pinkston, 37, are seminarians studying in St. Louis, Missouri. They’re dressed in black seminarian robes and are standing in one of the very long food lines, but they don’t mind the wait. “The weather has been great. Everyone is in a good mood,” says Pinkston. “It’s great to see so many people in support of the pope,” says Prichard.

2:05: T-shirts I’ve seen thus far:
I (heart) NY
I (heart) B16
I (heart) Benedict XVI
I (picture of Benedict) NY
I’m uncertain as to when Pope Benedict became a verb but I assume it’s a good thing.

2:07: Lenna Perrotta, 14, and her mother, Corey, 46, are also waiting for food. Lenna’s sister and grandmother have also come from Mahopac, New York, to see the pope. “It’s very loud,” says Corey over the music. “But it’s good! We wouldn’t ever be able to go to Rome to see the pope, so it’s wonderful to see this expression of faith here.”

2:15: Brigitte, 18, Rochelle, 16, and Chenelle, 17, sprawl across a blanket in the sun sporting various bright blue items of clothing representing Aquinas High School in the Bronx. “I’m excited to hear the pope’s message,” says Rochelle. “It’s our religion, so we’re excited about it. It shows the importance of religion...” Bridgette starts. “...in our own lives,” finishes Chenelle. “The music is really good too,” Chenelle says, a bit surprised, as Christian rock band Third Day plays. None of the girls have ever seen a pope before, “Unless you count TV,” laughs Brigette.

2:23: It’s really, really hot. So much so that I almost miss the air-conditioned lobby of the hotel media center. Almost.

2:30: Dressed in their blue and white habits Sister Mary Elizabeth and Sister Mary Gabriel of the Sisters of Life in New York are all smiles as they walk toward the main grounds, which is quickly becoming a dustbowl. They are volunteers at the event, says Sister Mary Gabriel. “We love the Holy Father and the youth and we do whatever we can do to be present,” she says. Large events such as this one are nothing new to Sister Mary Elizabeth, who has also been to a couple of World Youth Day celebrations. “There I experienced John Paul II’s powerful presence. But Benedict XVI has been an understated shepherd to us through his writing and teaching. And he comes with a message of hope, one people are longing to hear.”

2:35: I return to the media corral to organize my notes. Once inside, however, I’m informed that the rules have changed — no one is allowed out once they enter the corral. “Prisoner of the Vatican” takes on new meaning.

2:40: Christian rock artist Matt Maher has taken the stage. He is talented and enthusiastic, calling for another shout out to clergy and Religious.

3:00: Hip-hop artist Father Stan Fortuna rocks an excited crowd.

3:39: There’s not yet any sign of Kelly Clarkson. Rather, Mo Rocca is on stage again, offering a song of his own instead. Requests for “Ave Maria” and “Happy Birthday” in German are shouted from the crowd. Rocca opts for a rendition of “La Bamba.” This is followed by his asking the crowd to test his knowledge of countries and their capitals. The crowd obliges.

3:50: Finally Kelly Clarkson belts out her set. Clarkson is good but I’m reminded she’s not the main draw, as a group wearing red and fuchsia zucchettos assembles off stage to the left. The real show is just beginning.

4:05: Clarkson is done and a film entitled “The Vocation to Marriage” begins showing on a huge video screen.

4:06: A platform with a papal chair is rolled out onto the stage. We’re off to the left of the stage still in the corral near the fence lining a road through the seminary. For the first time I realize that the pope might actually use that road today. My suspicions are further supported by the fact that secret service and police are lining both sides.

4:36: “Here they come!” someone shouts, pointing to the motorcade of police cars, black limos, and SUVs pulling into the seminary. The scene is broadcast on the screens, and the crowd erupts into cheers, twirling their gold and white bandannas in the air. The cheers grow louder at the site of the live feed of Benedict in the seminary. We watch as Benedict greets the children there.

5:00: Benedict leaves the seminary building.

5:09: Large-scale anticipatory/celebratory bandanna waving resumes.

5:13: Bandana waving continues, albeit on a smaller scale.

5:16: The top of the popemobile can be seen at the edge of the field on the far side of the crowd. Kids begin sprinting toward that side. Everyone is standing, ready, excited. It is, as another reporter says to me, reminiscent of Lollapalooza, but without the beer.

5:25: The Holy Father takes the stage to wild applause, more bandanna waving, and cheers of “Ben-e-dicto!” The Holy Father raises his arms acknowledging the crowd. He appears (at least as far as I can tell from his image on the giant screen) pleased and humbled. With his arms outstretched he looks the part of a father welcoming his children home.

5:32: Benedict greets a group of students on stage and walks along portions of it that jut out into the crowd. Even from a distance, I can catch a glimpse of his famous red shoes. A welcome address. A prayer. Then a gift of bread, rice, and maize is given to the Holy Father to represent the “rich cultural tradition of all of us.” At the gift of maize, said to represent the Americas, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd, followed by a rousing chorus of Olé — the song often sung to celebrate scoring a goal in a game of soccer.

5:50: The crowd again breaks into song, this time it’s happy birthday — in German. Then, one by one, a diverse group of six youth read the life stories of an equally diverse group of saints. The lives of these saints offer examples of faith and love in the face of challenges and hardships. These holy men and women were not simply examples to be honored, they were real people ready for the adventure that faith often takes us on. From their attention and their enthusiasm, the youth present today are more than ready to join in the adventure as well.

6:10: The Holy Father offers a few of his own thoughts — he speaks about the challenges they face, about the challenges of his own youth. It is, at times, difficult to understand him, given the combination of his soft-spokenness and German accent. Still, even from across the field, there seems to be a peace about him, a calming presence that needs no translation.

6:39: The Holy Father finishes speaking, and as he begins to move on to the next portion, he is offered a sheet of paper. “Oh,” he says with a chuckle, “I forgot my Spanish!” He is greeted with cheers as he launches into a Spanish version of his speech.

6:58: Kelly Clarkson returns to the stage to offer a truly beautiful version of Ave Maria.

7:00: Benedict XVI leaves the stage to the sounds of the St. Louis Jesuits’ “City of God.” He exits to the rear of the stage and disappears. I know, though, that in a few moments, he will reappear within the confines of the popemobile, for a quick drive around the edges of the crowd. Young seminarians are pressed against the chain-link fence on once side of the narrow paved path, and I am joined by other members of the press against the mental barricade on the other. The pope will pass about 20 feet from us. The young woman beside me is 20 years old and considering joining Religious life. “Have you ever seen the pope up-close before?” she asks, excitedly. I tell her I haven’t. She grips the railing in front of us and continues to question: “Are you excited?” she asks expectantly. I take a deep breath. Over the course of the past 11 hours I have, at various times, felt amused, tired, cynical, hot, inspired, happy, prayerful, peaceful, and hungry. Now, I look down the road; I look out over the thousands of people gathered to celebrate our Church, our faith — in all its tradition, in all its beauty, and despite its mistakes. I turn back to the young woman beside me, and reply with a quiet, but firm “Yes.”

7:03: A small secret service golf cart scoots out from behind the stage. We expect the popemobile will follow any minute. “Keep going, Papa!” the young woman beside me calls encouragingly. And then, there he is. The vehicle rounds the corner and motors up the small hill before us. Benedict is all smiles, waving to the crowd. I barely have time to register the scene in front of me before all I can see is a white zucchetto through the popemobile’s back window. Benedict travels down the road followed by black SUVs, a swarm of secret service agents, and the cheers of thousands of young Catholics, newly inspired and ready to share in whatever challenges, whatever hope — and even excitement — our faith has to offer. CD

Kerry Weber is Associate Editor of Catholic Digest.