Catholic.org, 8/2:
New York Police Department reach extraordinary lengths to insure Pope's safety during visit
Quite unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis insists on meeting the faithful up close and personal. This presents special challenges to the NYPD.
To meet this challenge, counter-sniper teams, frozen zones for cars and pedestrians and radiation detectors are expected. There is also reportedly a request in the works for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to shut down Midtown trains.
This would stymie commuter efforts, as Penn Station is the busiest train station in the continental United States. It is estimated that there is 600,000 commuters using the six subway lines, the Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Amtrak.
Pope Francis' plans to offer Mass right above the station at Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m. on September 25 during rush hour has security officials working overtime. . . .
Continue here w/audio report.
