Pope Francis Holds Interfaith Service at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum Friday Sep 25,2015

 

In the most emotional speech of his American tour yet, Pope Francis mourned the lives of the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks and condemned senseless acts of violence while speaking in the foundations of the former Twin Towers. 

Speaking at an interfaith ceremony at the National September 11 museum, the pope said there should be opposition to 'any attempt to make us all the same.' Rather, he encouraged all to 'say yes to our differences, accepting reconciliation.'

Pope Francis visited the museum after praying beside the memorials' twin fountains and meeting with several victims' families.

Pope Francis pauses and prays next to a piece of art in the museum titled 'Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning' by Spencer Finch 

 Pope Francis pray at the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial in downtown Manhattan 

About 400 people were in attendance at the 9/11 museum on Friday for the pope's speech, including more than a dozen victims' families 

About a dozen religious leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Greek Orthodox, Hindu and other faiths sat in chairs beside the pope and took turns speaking at the interfaith ceremony

 

The pope joined several other religious leaders inside the National September 11 Memorial & Museum for a prayer service for the 9/11 victims

The visit to the 9/11 museum and memorial was the second stop on Pope Francis' first full day in New York City. Earlier in the day, he addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations