Vatican City, Apr 10, 2008 / 23:21 pm
Pope Benedict XVI will pray for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and for the conversion of “those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred” during his visit to Ground Zero, according to prayers released by the Vatican.
The Pope will visit Ground Zero on April 20, the last day of his six-day visit to the United States. During his time at the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Pope will pray the following prayer for the nearly 3,000 people who died.
"O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible 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, 2001.”