Before leaving D.C. for the United Nations to promote human rights, Pope Benedict XVI briefly stopped to touch the lives a few enthusiastic followers.

More than 150 young adults, ages 20 to 30-something, waited outside the Vatican Embassy early Friday morning for one last glimpse of the leader of the Catholic Church. As the crowd waited for the pope, Monsignor Rob Panke, of the Washington Archdiocese, led the group in songs and urged cheers of "Be-Ne-Dict! Be-Ne-Dict! Be-Ne-Dict!"

A cardinal who manned the large front door where the pope was expected to exit playfully teased the crowd. Each time he pushed the door slightly open, jubilant whoops and waving arms would rise up from the young Catholics. When Benedict finally came out, the crowd went wild, and Benedict hurried over to the group before taking off with his motorcade.

Julius Jackson, 28, said he kissed the ring of the pope, the 264th "successor to St. Peter, an apostle who knew Jesus."

This story continues below
Advertisement

"There is nothing bigger than this in the world," said Jackson, who converted to Catholicism five years ago at a church in East Texas. "This touched my soul. I'm trembling in a way that I never have before."

A day earlier at Nationals Park, Jennifer Popik, 26, was among the 46,000 who strained for a closer look at Benedict, only the second pope to visit the U.S. capital. On Friday, they stood only feet away.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of chance," Jennifer said. "It was so moving. We got to be so close to him."

In New York at the U.N., the pope raised concerns that international cooperation was threatened by "the decisions of few small number."

This week marked his first visit to the U.S. since he became pope in 2005, and he was only the third pope to address the U.N.

"Multilateral consensus continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a small number," the pope said.

"The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and increasing security," he said.

Benedict's remarks followed three dramatic days in D.C. in which he repeatedly apologized for America's clergy sexual-abuse scandal.

His New York visit continues through Sunday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com