Tom Llamas Blog: Pope Benedict XVI U.S. Visit

WASHINGTON -

Thursday, April 17, 2008 -- 10 a.m.

The pope at the park...

Pope Benedict the XVI arrived on time to Nationals Park. Mass is starting now. These photos I snapped show the pope mobile making a lap around the stadium. There's now not an empty seat in the house.

Thursday, April 17, 2008 -- 8:40 a.m.

Countdown to the pope's Mass...

We're two hours from the pope taking the field. From this photo you can see the stadium is starting to fill up now.

In this pic you can see most of the field seats are being taken up by clergy.

Most of the TV media is up in the skybox looking down at what's happening on the field. This photo shows how the crews are lined up for their live shots.

The Pope says he speaks with God. He may also be speaking with mother nature. The weather has been perfect. Right now the temperature feels like it's in the 60's and the skies are clear. We haven't had one day of bad weather. One of the coolest sights so far: watching the sunrise from left field. Earlier in the blog, I mentioned a cardboard cut out of the Pope being a big draw at the Basilica of the National Shrine's gift shop. I couldn't resist.

Thursday, April 17, 2008 ? 7 a.m.

Early start today -- up at 3:30 a.m. -- on a bus to Nationals Park 30 minutes later. We had to clear security so we could make our 6 a.m. live shot inside the stadium. Security is very tight for everyone, and I mean everyone. I snapped this photo of Catholic nuns being screened before entering. Security personnel and the Secret Service are taking no chances. Today will mark the first time Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in America. Nationals Park has now become a Catholic church. I shot this pic from the skybox where we are broadcasting. The altar is in center field facing home plate. The outfield has become the spot for floor seats (5,000). Over 42,000 people will be in the stands. The church had requests for over 100,000 tickets, so there are many in the nation's capital hoping for a miracle to get one of the hottest seats in town. In true star fashion, the pope will take a lap around the park in his popemobile, then he'll change into his vestments (that's pope speak for costume change), then re-emerge. So what about communion? How do you deliver the body of Christ to 50,000? The church says they're going to do it in 20 minutes. They'll have Eucharistic ministers placed throughout the stadium to make sure the lines don't get long. No word yet on where they're keeping the 50,000 hosts, but I guarantee you that's one big tabernacle. Mass starts at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 ? 11 p.m.

Pope Benedict XVI's busy schedule has kept me away from this blog for too long...

So, here's a catch-up report of everything that's happened over the last two days: The Arrival: What Pope Benedict didn't do was kiss the ground when he landed at Andrews Air Force Base. That was the signature move of his predecessor Pope John Paul II. What we've learned so far from the pope's brief time in the U.S. is that he is definitely his own pope. That sentiment was cemented by the fact that he addressed the priest sex abuse scandal before he even landed on American soil. In a news conference aboard his plane, in which questions were given to the pope ahead of time, the pope's first words in English during this trip were to express his shame for the Catholic priests responsible for molesting thousands. Vatican officials said the pope would address the issue on the trip, but clergy here in the U.S. and the media were definitely surprised he did it so early. The pope is staying at the Vatican's embassy in Washington, D.C., while in the nation's capital. NBC 6 photographer Felix Castro and I dropped by Tuesday night to see if we maybe would get that "money shot" of the pope in a window or on a balcony. The pope was nowhere to be seen from ground level. What we did see? Fifty protesters, some from Miami who called the pope a criminal and compared him to Osama Bin Laden. The group, which calls itself Christian, follows a Hispanic preacher who bills himself as the Son of God. They said they would also be protesting in NYC. I snapped this photo in between interviews.

In the middle of the protest, a Catholic family marched, singing a church song to the Virgin Mary. They called the protesters' efforts "sad." On Wednesday, America got a taste of the pope's star power. He started the day at the White House, where he arrived like a big wig American -- traveling in a Cadillac stretch limo. He was greeted by the president and first lady, along with administration and congressional leaders. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic, bent down to kiss the pope's ring. By far the best moment for reporters came after the pope's remarks, when the president leaned over, shook the pope's hand and said, "Thank you, your holiness. Awesome speech." The podium's microphones caught that juicy nugget. The pope then took to the streets, traveling in his Mercedes Benz popemobile. Even though he lives in the Vatican, a nation-state inside of Italy, he's German, so he has to keep it real with German automotive engineering. Tens of thousands lined the streets. They expected to see a quiet theologian; they got a man who played to the crowd's cheers. I snapped this photo as we ran to shoot video of the pope driving by.

I interviewed two pregnant women, originally from Peru, who both claimed their babies started kicking just before popemobile passed them. Others we spoke to said they definitely felt something as the pope's motorcade traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue. Later on that night, the pope headed to the Basilica of the National Shrine. It's the largest church in America. I snapped this photo when Felix and I were outside the church on Monday.

The pope used the alluring stage to address further the ugliest of issues. He told U.S. Bishops -- middle managers of the church -- they need to bind the wounds caused from the priest sex abuse scandal. Some people criticized the pope's remarks because, during his speech, the pontiff alluded to American pornography and other cultural matters as an enabler in these situations. The Holy Father also gave the bishops marching orders for the future of the American Catholic Church. One of the big issues: getting more men to answer the call to become priests. Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estevez from the Archdiocese of Miami said that's something they're working on in South Florida.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 ? 6 p.m.

In Washington, D.C., this week the gift shop at the Basilica of the National Shrine is busy. The cashier that works there hasn't seen action like this in years. People in town to see the pope are buying up whatever memorabilia they can -- from coffee mugs, to bumper stickers and T-shirts to even Benedict XVI statuettes.

The big draw is actually an item not even for sale. It's a life-size, cardboard cutout of Pope Benedict. It actually looks real. If you want to see what it looks like check out my report from 6 p.m., which you can find online. I snapped this photo to give you pope fans out there a taste.

FYI, many of the items you see in the photo are available online.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 4 p.m.

How many reporters does it take to cover the pope's visit? No, this is not a bad joke. It actually takes 5,000 journalists. There are reporters from all over the country, all over the world, in D.C. right now to write, record, photograph and broadcast the pontiff's first trip.

This photo shows NBC6 photographer Felix Castro shooting some video of The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. That's where B16 will meet with Catholic leaders on Wednesday.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 4:30 a.m.

We were up at 4:30 am to get ready for a live report on Today in South Florida.

I met NBC 6 photographer Felix Castro in the hotel lobby. I snapped this photo before we hopped in a cab. Washington D.C.'s cool temperature hit us as we walked outside-50's-which for South Floridians means it's cold.

As we drove to our live shot location outside the capitol I noticed the lack of pope advertisements or Catholic flags you'd expect to see announcing the Pope Benedict XVI (B16) trip. The only signage we've seen so far was at the Basicila of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest church in the U.S. Outside hangs a massive banner with B16's face and the title of the trip "Christ our Hope."

Jesus Christ will be a major focus of the pontiff's visit. B16 thinks Jesus has become a metaphor for some Catholics, so he hopes to remind the faithful, in his words, of God's miracle.

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