Pope Francis is visiting the National Sept. 11 Memorial at ground zero.
To a cheer from the gathered crowd, he walked toward the two massive waterfall pools that mark the footprints of the World Trade Center's twin towers before they were felled by the 2001 terrorist attacks. Francis visited the site after a speech at the United Nations.
Francis prayed silently and laid a white rose at the edge of one of the pools, inscribed with the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks in New York, at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field, as well as in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
He shook hands with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and began speaking with some 18 people from 10 victims' families. "I think it speaks volumes he understands the importance of recognizing the great loss and to be there, to show somebody that they care," said Frank Siller, a victim's brother.
It will be, for Frank Siller, a very special moment to meet Pope Francis face to face and perhaps to be able to speak to him. The Pope is visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum first to meet the families of victims on the plaza and then pausing himself to reflect.
"It's going to be comforting for a lot of 9/11 family members," Siller said.
Frank's brother Stephen was a firefighter with New York City Fire Department Squad One and responded to 9/11 by running through the Brooklyn Battery tunnel in his full 60-pound turnout gear. Stephen later died in the collapse of the towers. "My connection here is my son and many friends," said Lee Ielpi, the victim's father.