By SARAH GARLAND

Thirty years ago, Pope John Paul II took a spontaneous detour into the South Bronx during a trip to Yankee Stadium to say mass. This week, I wondered what would happen if the new pope, Benedict XVI, would do the same, and what he might find there. I discovered one parish that had the same thought: the priest at St. Rita’s Church, a strikingly pretty little white-washed building that stood out in its rather depressing surroundings, had photo-shopped a picture of the pope over one of their church and created a banner. I also discovered that not much has changed in these neighborhoods since John Paul stopped by. It’s still one of the poorest Congressional Districts in the nation, and the say a noon mass each day at St. Rita’s to pray for an end to violence in the neighborhood. Yet, it was also a hopeful scene, even though parishes in the area have closed. (The photographer and I came across one church, a majestic baroque building, down the street from where John Paul said a blessing. The doors were flung open wide, so we walked in. Looking up there were glass chandeliers, opulent stained glass windows and a tall arching ceiling. But looking down, dust covered the pews, light fixtures were piled up for recycling, and a broom sat leaning near piles of dirt. We were soon discovered by a construction worker, who told us the parish was now closed and then scooted us out of the building)

St. Rita’s, on the other hand, was booming with new parishioners, most of them Hispanic. Meeting with some of them, I thought, hey, if the pope wants to get to know the American Catholic Church, no better place to come than here. So I guess we’ll see what happens…

http://www.nysun.com/news/new-york/bronx-detour-could-prove-edifying-benedict