Cardinal Francis Spellman ( 1957 ) , Pope Paul VI ( 1965 ) , Pope John Paul II ( 1969 as a cardinal , 1979 as pope ) and Pope Benedict XVI ( 2008 ) all celebrated Mass at the ballpark , along with numerous clergy and lay Catholics . On June 21 , 1990 , a rally was held at Yankee Stadium for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison . On September 23 , 2001 , Yankee Stadium hosted a memorial service for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City
September 11 terrorist attacks
September 11 attacks
Yankee Stadium (1923)