Choir Prepares To Welcome Pope Francis At Madison Square Garden
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A choir was preparing Friday to hit the perfect note, as they got ready to sign at Pope Francis' mass at Madison Square Garden later this month.
WCBS 880's Sean Adams met the choir Friday as they rehearsed at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers. There were about 70 people in the rehearsal, but there will be more in the entire choir that will sing at the mass.
Choral director Jennifer Pascual scrutinizes every breath and syllable.
"English or Latin or German or Spanish, and Spanish is really important because our pope is Argentinian," she said.
Evan Katsefes, 15, expects it will be a transcendent experience.
"Make it such a beautiful mass – not only for him, but for the people that are attending," he said. "Make it a beautiful, prayerful experience."
Maire Liberace from Pomona hopes the gentle tone of the music helps convey the pope's message about "the poor, the immigrants, the have-nots if you want to put it like that. There's a great deal of compassion, and compassion is somehow sadly lacking in our world today."
But with soft voices raised as one, Scott Walters of Nanuet believes that message can reach many.
"And I hope everyone takes a chance to go ahead and, you know, hear the message, because it's about peace. It's about unity, it's about love," he said.
To see a complete schedule of the pope's upcoming visit, click here.