04/18 — Pope Benedict landed in New York at 9:33 Friday morning, but Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens must still feel like he’s walking in the clouds. Clemens, on hand with his wife Nicole for the Papal Mass on Thursday at Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C., witnessed an incredible sight when the Pope delivered a kiss to his infant daughter, Kate.

“My eyes welled up with tears — it was such a moving experience. I don’t really know if we fully understand just how special it was,” Clemens said. “That’s a direct descendant of Peter, and there he is giving a blessing and a kiss to our child. … To have the day unfold the way it did was just an awesome experience.”

The Clemens family received tickets to the mass because Kellen is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ. Kellen and Nicole were seated on the field during the celebration and the Pope walked toward them as he exited. 

“The minute he came over I just kind of stood there in shock,” Nicole said. “He traced the sign of the cross on her forehead and had given her this blessing. I was absolutely amazed and then for him to stop, lean down and kiss her, I got goose bumps immediately.”

Little Kate was actually born on Good Friday and she celebrates her four-week birthday today. There is certainly much to celebrate for the Clemens family as Benedict XVI concludes his American visit here in New York.

“It’s more than we could have ever hoped for,” Clemens said. “It was such an awesome experience that we will certainly treasure forever and she’s definitely going to hear about growing up, definitely.”