14年前，2001年9月11日，美國發生了震驚世界的恐怖襲擊，美國航空AA11號班機和聯合航空UA175號班機被恐怖分子劫持撞進世貿大樓 ; 美國航空AA77班機被撞進五角大樓；聯合航空UA93班機則因為乘客和機組人員抵抗劫持者，最終在尚克斯維爾一處田野失控墜毀。這次的恐怖襲擊一共造成近3000人死亡。
2008年4月20日，教宗本篤十六世來到紐約世貿中心被稱作「原爆點」(Ground Zero)的遺址，為死傷者及其家屬、生還者、救護人員，以及所有受害者祈禱。教宗本篤十六世也特別寫下以下的禱文，悼念911事件。請大家祈禱:
PRAYER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
VISIT TO GROUND ZERO
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.
禱文來源: 梵蒂岡官方網頁