NEW YORK - Pope Benedict XVI held a mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Saturday as part of his six-day trip to the United States. Ironically, this mass was held on his third anniversary of election to the Papacy. He was greeted in front of the cathedral by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Speaking to some 3,000 people, most of them clergy, he called for a time of healing and purification regarding the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church system. He asked for cooperation to the bishops who he said were working to resolve this issue.

Benedict used holy water to bless the famous cathedral before beginning the mass. Large monitors were set up outside in Rockefeller Center for the thousands who could not fit into the church as thousands were seated inside as well.

This is Benedict's fifth of six days of his first visit to America. Later in New York, he will hold a youth rally to thousands of younger catholics. About a dozen youth from Oneida County joined by several others from the Syracuse area were in New York City on Friday attending a pre-youth rally and will attend this rare-opportunity rally.

On Sunday, the final day of the Pontiff's trip, he will visit the infamous ground zero and hold a Mass at Yankee Stadium.