BP MARKOWITZ WELCOMES POPE BENEDICT XVI TO NEW YORK CITY

“Here in Brooklyn, long known as the ‘Borough of Churches,’ you will find some of the greatest religious diversity in the world, yet we recognize we are all children of the same Almighty. That diversity is our strength—and fellowship among different cultures and religions is what defines us. I proudly join Brooklyn’s large and faithful population of Catholics who attend Sunday Mass in more than 27 different languages, as well as all Brooklynites, in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to New York City. For the duration of his trip, the lights on Brooklyn Borough Hall will shine yellow and white in his honor.

As a member of the Jewish faith, I am also heartened by the Pope’s ecumenical efforts—his outreach to spiritual leaders of other religions, including his planned historic Papal visit to an American synagogue, Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue.

We are thrilled that our very own Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn officially greeted the Pope upon his arrival, and I am honored to be invited to attend his official departure on Sunday and wish him well on behalf of Brooklyn.”