During his Apostolic Visit to the United States in 2015, Pope Francis visited Ground Zero to commemorate the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack. He greeted some of the families of the victims and stood for some time at the reflecting pool, which is surrounded by a wall inscribed with the names of those who died.
Then, while inside the 9/11 Museum’s Foundation Hall, Pope Francis presided at a Multireligious Meeting for Peace, where representatives of religious communities offered prayers and reflections. The pope offered his own prayer and addressed the 700 guests gathered.
O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and religious traditions,
who gather today on this hallowed ground,
the scene of unspeakable violence and pain.We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here:
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers
and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11.We ask you, in your compassion,
to bring healing to those who,
because of their presence here fourteen years ago,
continue to suffer from injuries and illness.Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon
and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred,
and who justify killing in the name of religion.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.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.
And today we celebrate...