by Tablet Staff
On the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the words and gestures of three popes still echo through the grief of that day — from St. John Paul II’s immediate prayers for a shaken nation, to Pope Benedict XVI’s silent visit to ground zero, to Pope Francis’ rose placed at one of the memorial’s reflecting pools. Together, their responses offered the faithful a path through sorrow: prayer, remembrance, and healing.
St. John Paul II
On Sept. 11, 2001, Pope John Paul II watched coverage of the terrorist attacks live on television from his summer residence. As his press secretary later revealed, the future saint tried to reach President George W. Bush to express his closeness to the American people, but the president was unreachable because he was in a secure location.
So, the Holy Father sent a telegram instead.
“Shocked by the unspeakable horror of today’s inhuman terrorist attacks against innocent people in different parts of the United States, I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark and tragic moment,” Pope John Paul said. “Commending the victims to Almighty God’s eternal mercy, I implore His strength upon all involved in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors. I beg God to sustain you and the American people in this hour of suffering and trial.”
The day after the attacks was a Wednesday, so Pope John Paul II was scheduled to hold his weekly general audience. In his remarks, he said 9/11 “was a dark day in human history, a terrible attack on human dignity.”
Pope John Paul never visited ground zero because of his age and failing health. However, on Nov. 10, 2001, he met with a delegation of eight New York City firefighters during a service in St. Peter’s Basilica for Rome’s volunteer workers. One of the visiting firefighters handed Pope John Paul the helmet of Father Mychal Judge, the firefighter chaplain who was the first certified fatality of the 9/11 attacks.
“I pray to God that he might offer consolation and peace to the families of those who suffered loss and give you the strength and courage to continue the great service you do for your city,” the Holy Father told the firefighters.
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI made the first papal visit to ground zero on April 20, 2008. To honor the victims, he chose to pray instead of giving a speech.
“God of understanding, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events. Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain,” Pope Benedict prayed. “Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.”
Three years later, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Pope Benedict offered blessings in a letter to then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, who was also the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators’ claim to be acting in God’s name,” Pope Benedict said. “Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism.”
“The American people are to be commended for the courage and generosity that they showed in the rescue operations and for their resilience in moving forward with hope and confidence,” the Holy Father added. “It is my fervent prayer that a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and will create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.”
Pope Francis
Seven years after Pope Benedict, Pope Francis followed in his footsteps, visiting the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum at ground zero on Sept. 25, 2015. While there, the Holy Father laid a white rose on the edge of one of the reflecting pools. He also held an interreligious meeting, appealing for all religions to promote peace.
“This place of death became a place of life, too,” Pope Francis said. “It is a hymn to the triumph of life over the prophets of destructions and death, to goodness over evil, to reconciliation and unity over hatred and division.”