that is what the pope is trying to do. the membership of the catholic church has dropped by 3 million in the last ten years. perhaps all the people we have talked to and certainly the father on the desk with liz and sade hoping this pope's visit will start to reverse that trend even if only a little. i will throw it back to you. >> all right. >> live pictures inside madison square garden. quite a transformation there going from app arena to a place of worship tonight. tomorrow it will be back to billy joel. but tonight, it is all pope francis. father, thanks for joining us again tonight. >> my pleasure. >> it has been a remarkable day in new york city. starting off at the united nations. going to ground zero.

what are some of your reflections for what has been a remarkable day here? ingly think the children's choir summed it up best. let there be peace on earth. that is the hope the pope is bringing to the city. you can see people are responding to it. i was walking through columbus circle today. they saw my collar. he is now going to do the most important thing a priest does. celebrate the source and summit of our lives together as catholics. it is a sign of sign of the hope that he is testifying to. >> we have talked about the energy that people have had

one for the service we are looking at. but also, having the chance to look at the pope. the francis effect. bill touched on this. the flagging membership. there were about 3 million fewer catholics than there were eight years ago. what happens when he leaves? >> well, i mean, we will have to wait and see. but i think the greatest challenge other than the sexual abuse crisis and the rise of secularism, is the joy deficit that we have been running. [ laughter ] you know. people could be forgiven for thinking that we are kind of bitter. that we are kind of down. that we are all about the rules. we haven't been able to give an account of the joy within us.

thing we can do for our lives together as catholic christians. but it is what attracts people. you know. this is a word he comes back to time and again is attraction. it is attraction rather than promotion. it is encounter rather than confrontation. it is meeting people where they are. enjoy. >> grow up and live with happiness. there are so many people out on columbus avenue. people are filled with joy leaving central park after watching the pope go by. it is not often we see a scene like that in new york city. it has been incredible to witness. and i know marcus solis spoke with a young girl up in east harlem who had an opportunity to meet the pope.

feeling an awful lot of joy as well right now. >> reporter: liz, so many kids genuinely touched by the presence of the pope an the chance to meet him. they said they were nervous. we spoke to them weeks ahead of time. now the moment has come and it exceeded theirexpectations. also, the high school students, they positioned high school students in between the two events. that hallway that the pope had the travel. and there was nothing scripted. nothing planned. they had hoped that maybe the holy father would see this is the finished product. these are the older kids that complete their catholic school education. they got a chance to meet with the pontiff. young lady cara, her father is sick with cancer and she had hoped she could get a personal message to the pope.

today she did. >> my father is sick with terminal cancer. would you say a prayer for him? he did. he looked at the picture and blessed it. he asked his name. i said robert and he said he would pray for him. it was incredible. >> i said thank you for coming. i asked him. can i please hug you? his translater translated that and he was like si. i hugged him and it was the best hug of my life. >> he was nice. he was nice. he was friendly. he was like an average person like a friend. >> he was pretty cool, but afterwards, i thought he was better than cool. >> he is the holiest right now. and he is asking us to pray for him?

>> reporter: that was the message the holy father gave over and over. please pray for me. he gave hem homework. >> thanks bill. >> now we are looking at live pictures again. the mass is now underway. this is a 90-minute mass. again, 20,000 worshipers here. let's listen in. [ music ] [ singing ] oh praise him, oh praise him.

[ singing ] [ music ] [ ]

[ singing ] [ music ] [ singing ] [ music [ singing ] halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

o praise him, halleluiah. [ music ] [ singing ] [ music ] [ singing ] halleluiah

[ singing ] [ music ]

[ singing ] [ music ] [ pipe organ ] >> right now, you are watching the mass about to begin here. you are listening to the entrance hymn. we are joined by father matt malone. can you tell us the significance of the mass of peace and justice? >> every mass is significant. it is where the church enters into the death and resurrection of jesus christ which is a sign

>> we are not going to try and interrupt this. we will let you listen in and let father malone narrate certain spots. >> he is here with you. and the brothers and sisters, to our hearts, make us

let us celebrate. [ chants ] >> god, have mercy on us. forgive us our sins and bring us to ever lasting life. >> amen.

singing in latin ] >> let us pray. o god, our father's care for all. grant your mercy that the members of the human race to whom you have original sin. for jesus christ, his son. who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit.

>> amen. >> acknowledging our unworthiness to enter into this. we begin with the series of readings from a scripture culminating in a proclamation of the gospel. [ speaking spanish ] >> reading from the book of isaiah. the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light upon those who dwelled in the land of gloom, a light has shown. you have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.

at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. for the yoke that burdens them. the pull on their shoulder, and the rod of their task master. you have smashed. as on the day of midian. for a child is born us. a son is given us. upon his shoulder, dominion rests. they name him wonder counselor. god hero. father forever. prince of peace. his dominion is vast and forever peaceful. from david's throne and over his kingdom. which he confirms as sustains. by judgment and justice. both now and forever.

the zeal of the lord of hosts will do this. [ music ] [ singing ] i will hear what god proclaims, my lord for he proclaims peace.

those who fare him, glory in our land. the lord speaks of peace. kindness and truth will be, justice and peace shall keep. truth shall spring out on the earth. and justice showered down from heaven. [ singing ]

him, and salvation away from his steps. [ music ]

[ music ] [ singing ] halleluiah, halleluiah halleluiah, halleluiah,

you says the lord, my peace i give to you. halleluiah, halleluiah. halleluiah the lord be you.

glory to the lord jesus said to his disciples. you have heard it said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. but i say to you offer no resistance to one who is evil. when someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. should anyone press you into service one mile, go with him two miles. give to the one who asks of you. and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. you have heard what was said. you shall love your neighbor.

you may be children of your heavenly father. and cause the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. for if you love those who love you. do not the tax collectors do the same. do not the pagans do the same?

just your heavenly father is perfect. the gospel of the lord. >> praise you o jesus christ. >> having just heard that gospel passage, the gospel of matthew, the pope will now

have just heard. >> madison square garden. , this sport events attracting people not only from the city, but from the in this place, which represents both the variety and the common interests of so many different people, we have listened to the words the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

the people who walked caught up in their activities and routines amid their successes and failures, their worries and expectations, the people have seen a great light. the people who walked with all of their joys and hopes, their disappointments and regrets, the people have seen a great light. the people of god are called in every age to contemplate this

light. a light for the nations. this is what elderly semyon joyfully expressed. a light shining on the city of our fellow citizens on every part of our lives. the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. their ability to see. contemplate. even in moments of darkness.