Paula Ebben's Papal Visit Blog: Pope Francis In New York City
NEW YORK CITY (CBS) - Pope Francis is expected to speak to the United Nations General Assembly and visit The National September 11 Memorial & Museum Friday.
After his speech to Congress, which touched on several political issues, I would expect his talk at the UN to be even more forceful and blunt in light of global climate change offenders that are largely outside of the United States.
Check: Pope's U.S. Visit Schedule
I can't wait to see Pope Francis interact with the children at the Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem. I'm sure being around the kids will energize him. It should be a highlight.
The parade through Central Park and the mass at Madison Square Garden are sure to be a real New York City scene. New Yorkers are rarely impressed by celebrities, but on Fifth Avenue there was genuine excitement and anticipation Thursday before he pulled up in the Fiat in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
A lot will be made about the pope's remarks in his homily at the vespers service about victims of sexual abuse and, frankly, it should be discussed. No one questions the pope's compassion and obviously he was trying to empathize with the priests and bishops assembled there as he did the other day. But telling bishops and priests that he realizes how much they have suffered without extending the same kind of empathy to victims of abuse is not going to go very far in terms of bringing Americans back into the fold.
Groups like SNAP are furious about his empathetic words to the bishops two days ago and now it's happened again. Whenever I interviewed a victim they'd say that until actions taken against bishops or cardinals, they think what Pope Francis says is hollow and meaningless. The best start over the weekend would be for him to meet with victims of sexual abuse. We'll see.
I don't know how he keeps up this grueling schedule but I'm beginning to feel sorry for the holy father. He is 78 years old and has Type 2 diabetes, a troubling gallbladder, sciatica and one lung. I understand the need to have him everywhere doing as much as he can during a visit like this, but he really needs someone to tell him he needs more rest. You know the way grandpa looks after a big family wedding as though he must be taken home to go to bed immediately? That's how Pope Francis looks at the end of each day.
And one final note - St. Patrick's Cathedral is stunning - go to New York City to see it.
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Watch: Paula Ebben reports from Washington, DC
