9/11 Widow Shares How Pope Francis Restored Her Faith at the Memorial

Pope Francis's 2015 US Visit

• 🇻🇦 Pope Francis made his only visit to the United States during his papacy in 2015, traveling to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York.
• 🕊️ A significant event during his trip was an interfaith ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

Monica Iken Murphy's Connection to the Memorial

• 💔 Monica Iken Murphy, a board member of the memorial, lost her husband Michael on September 11th.
• 🔗 The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is the only place she feels connected to her husband, as she has no remains of him.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 She attended the ceremony with her two daughters, Madison and Megan, who were eight and ten at the time.

Restoring Faith and Belief

• 😔 Murphy nearly lost her faith after 9/11, particularly when there was discussion about building over the memorial site where remains and souls were located.
• 🙏 Pope Francis's visit and his acknowledgment of the site as sacred and hallowed ground were profoundly impactful.
• 🌟 She stated that the Pope "brought back my faith and my belief in God" by understanding the importance of the memorial.

Significance of the Sacred Space

• 🕍 While Catholic priests were not initially aligned on the sacredness of the site, rabbis from the Jewish faith strongly affirmed its status as a place not to be built over.
• ✅ The Pope's affirmation served as a powerful confirmation that the memorial is indeed a sacred and hallowed space.
• 💖 For Murphy, the Pope's presence and blessing were a profound affirmation, making the experience feel like being as close to God as possible.