Pope John Paul II joined the bishops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in praying for an end to terrorism on the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. The bishops were in Rome Saturday for their scheduled meeting with the Pope, which is held every five years.

“I assure you of my closeness to the American people and I join you in praying for an end to the scourge of terrorism and the growth of the civilization of love,” he told them.

The dioceses in the state of Pennsylvania and New Jersey were particularly struck by the terrorist attacks of 2001. One plane had crashed in a Pennsylvania farm field; no one on the flight survived the crash. As well, many of those who worked in the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, lived in New Jersey, located just across the Hudson River.