Planning papal visit tough but rewarding job, says church official

Published: 2008-03-17

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI's visit to New York, with all of its special events, needs to run as smoothly as the limousine that carries him from John F. Kennedy International Airport into Manhattan. One man is responsible for seeing that it does. Mark G. Ackermann is the executive director of the archdiocesan Office of the Papal Visit. His job is to oversee almost every detail of planning and managing the visit of the pope and those who will be traveling with him. That includes such tasks as working on security; arranging for lodging and hospitality for visiting dignitaries, including U.S. cardinals and bishops; distributing tickets for papal events; booking popular entertainment for a papal youth rally; making sure that reporters and other media people have lodging and any technical assistance they need; and seeing to it that the papal schedule is followed to the minute. Ackermann, who spent 25 years at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan and was most recently its chief administrative officer, seems both exceptionally qualified for the job and delighted to be doing it.

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