O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths 
and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain. 
We ask you in your goodness 
to give eternal light and peace 
to all who died here-- 
the heroic first-responders: 
our fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel, along with all the innocent men and women 
who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your  compassion  to bring healing to those  who, because of their presence here that day,  suffer from injuries and illness.  Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families  and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.   Give them strength to continue their lives  with courage and hope. 

We are mindful as well 
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and in 
Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Our hearts are one with theirs as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering. 

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth. Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred. 

God of understanding, 
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, 
we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events. Grant that those whose lives were spared 
may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us, 
strengthen us in hope, 
and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.

Pope Benedict XI--Prayer at Ground Zero 
New York, 20 April 2008