Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Robin Farmer is in Washington D.C. this morning covering the papal Mass.

She is reporting on events at the Washington Nationals Park that has been converted to accommodate the crowd of worshippers.

Check back throughout the day to read more about the crowd, the ceremony and the experience of covering the large papal Mass.   

11:43 a.m.
Okay, been up all night and feeling it. So maybe that's why the yellow umbrellas held by red-jacketed helpers shading the priests, and serving as a colorful locator for those seeking communion on the field, look so pretty.
 
Covered by protective white plastic, the baseball field is dominated by splashes of white and red vestments and yellow umbrellas!
 
In the stands, worshippers are streaming in an orderly fashion to where they need to go for communion. If they walk toward umbrellas I can't tell from where I sit.
 
But I do see people leaving, which is surprising. The media was told we could not leave until the pope left.
 
Well, I'm staying. Want to see the popemobile do another lap.

11:15 a.m.
All 45,000 plus congregants will be offered communion soon. The plan is to use an army of 300 priests and deacons to get the job done in 20 minutes.
 
The mass has proceeded like clockwork so this will likely happen with precision.
 
The mood was somber as the pope blessed the host.
 
The stadium is eerily quiet.
 
Except for the groan of my empty stomach.

11:02 a.m.
For the third time since leaving the Vatican, Pope Benedict addressed the sex abuse crisis that has rocked the American Catholic Church.
 
During his homily he said "No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse."
 
Can insert what I sent earlier here.

10:58 a.m.
With his thick, German accent, some observers noted the pope sounded better when he spoke Spanish at the end of his sermon.
 
Certainly the Latino congregants appreciated his comments. Hispanic ministry is available at 35 sites around the Archdiocese ranging from holding Mass in Spanish up to five times a week to providing social services to Hispanics and teaching religious education in Spanish.

10:36 a.m.
The pope touched on the sex abuse crisis that has rocked the American Catholic church during his homily/sermon.
 
He said he "acknowledged the pain which the church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the church. Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation, and to ensure that children, whom our lord loves so deeply, and who are our greatest treasures, can grow up in a safe environment.
 
"Yesterday I spoke with your bishops about this. Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt."

10:17 a.m.
It's a gorgeous morning for an open air Mass led by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
 
Pope Benedict XVI sits under a 14 foot wooden cross in the center of a grand gold and white altar flanked by cardinals and bishops.
 
Twelve minutes into the mass, which is in English and Spanish, the crowd, bought to its feet by the arrival of the popemobile at 9:30, sat.
 
The mass is underway and the mood is reverential among the nearly 46,000 diverse worshippers.

10:05 a.m.
"Holy Father Welcome to Washington."
 
And with those words the crowd applauded as the Pope, smiled with his arms outstretched.
 
The crowd waved gold and white Vatican flags back at him.
 
Unfortunately the sound is ad and I can barely hear over the radio guys' booming voices as they do takes.

 
9:56 a.m.
Pope Benedict bought a crowd of nearly 46,000 to their feet when his popemobile was driven around the new Nationals Stadium, which was converted to an open air cathedral.
 
Now folks, still standing, are quiet, reverential, as the Pope approaches the grand gold and white altar. Now he is greeting people. He seems to be taking his time. Mass should start in five minutes.

9:45 a.m.
Ah, the popemobile has just entered. The crowd is going bananas. How's that for a segue?
He's doing a lap around the field. Everyone is waving, cheering and standing.

Want a papal souvenir? There are plenty but all the money in the world won't get you one of three different types of rosaries, matted artwork of the pontiff's profile, rosary beads, coffee mugs, baseball hats or T-shirts. Why? The pope is here. And all concession stands are closed even though mass won't start for another 30 minutes.

9:39 a.m.
The pope's arm is out of the popemobile and he is standing and waving to the crowd in his white vestments. And the weather is fabulous in this open air cathedral!

8:34 a.m.
I'm sitting in the press box dead center of this stadium converted into a temporary cathedral, behind a window obviously shattered by a ball. If I had markers I could color the broken bits and enjoy a stained glass effect. Pardon the silliness, been up all night!

People are waving tiny gold and white Vatican flags as one of many choirs lift their voices in song. The crowd appears emotional on this special day for American Catholics.

There are:
- One pope, 14 cardinals, 250 bishops, 1,300 priests and more than 45,000 lay people
- An army of priests and deacons (300) who will distribute communion in 20 minutes
- Four choirs totaling 570 singers. They will sing in English, Italian, Latin, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Korean.

The choirs reflect the diversity of the Archdiocese of Washington, where Mass is celebrated in more than 20 languages weekly, up from seven in 1979.

The red vestments used by the Holy Father, cardinals, bishops, principal deacons and archdiocesan priests were designed for use at this Mass. They are red since this is a Mass of the Holy Spirit.
 
Begging won't work either. I tried. Not for a magnet with the pope's image. Just wanted a cereal bar. Good thing I brought a banana.