POPE BENEDICT in his POPEMOBILE on FIFTH AVENUE

Earlier this afternoon, I joined the thousands of people who lined Fifth Avenue to see POPE BENEDICT XVI riding in his POPEMOBILE. Above are some scenes during and after the procession. The Popemobile rolled along Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick's Cathedral north to the papal residence on 72nd Street. The procession began at 1:15 p.m., after he celebrated Mass for priests at the cathedral and has lunch with New York Cardinal Edward Egan.

The Popemobile was invented after an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, so people could see the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics without endangering him. Benedict's vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, is one of two models he uses. The tradition dates back centuries to when popes were carried through the streets on a special chair. 

The pope also addressed the United Nations General Assembly and visited a Jewish synagogue yesterday. Tomorrow the pope will visit Ground Zero (World Trade Center site) and will also celebrate mass at Yankee Stadium.