Archives Showcases New York Visit Of Pope Paul VI 50 Years Ago

Posted

As the New York Archdiocese prepares for the visit of Pope Francis in September, it is taking a joyful look back at another papal visit 50 years ago.

On Oct. 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States. He came to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly by invitation from U Thant, U.N. secretary general. In the 14 hours he spent here, Paul VI also visited Holy Family Church near the U.N., and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium and stopped at the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in Queens to view Michelangelo’s Pietà. He was seen in person by more than 1 million people, and live on television by millions more.

The Archives of the Archdiocese of New York, located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, is presenting an exhibit of photos, memorabilia and other items to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the visit. Cardinal Dolan, who initiated the exhibit, officially opened it and offered remarks before a small group of guests June 25.

Also speaking was Father Michael P. Morris, archdiocesan archivist, who assembled the material for the exhibit and supervised the project. Msgr. Peter Vaccari, rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, attended the opening.

The exhibit is titled “Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace,” recalling the message Pope Paul VI delivered ardently, in French, to the U.N. General Assembly. It is displayed on one of the exhibit’s wall panels: “No more war, war never again! It is peace, peace which must guide the destinies of people and of all mankind.”

Other panels trace Paul VI’s life and work and the story of the visit. Objects on display include the chalice and paten used by Pope Paul VI at the stadium Mass and by Pope John Paul II at his Mass in Central Park in 1995. Display cases contain numerous items, including telegrams exchanged between Paul VI and Cardinal Francis Spellman after the visit, as well as commemorative Vatican stamps and a ticket to the stadium Mass. Also displayed is the flag that flew on the papal limousine.

Cardinal Dolan, in his remarks, recalled his years of study at the North American College, 1972-1976, when he often saw Paul VI “in action.”

“Never, ever will I forget the power and the presence of Pope Paul VI,” he said. He noted that Paul VI guided the Second Vatican Council to a successful conclusion and steered the Church steadily through the difficulties that followed.

“Those were tumultuous days in the life of the Church,” the cardinal said, but the pope brought the Church through them and “we owe him a great debt of gratitude.”

Father Morris said that Paul VI, in his United Nations address, brought “a message of peace to a world reeling from post-colonial discord, the continued threat of authoritarian Communism, the unabated grief left in the wake of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy nearly two years before, and the escalating war in Southeast Asia.”

In his remarks, Father Morris noted that Paul VI had visited the United States in 1951 and 1960 as Cardinal Giovanni Montini; the 1951 visit included a stop at St. Joseph’s Seminary. Paul VI was elected pope in 1963 and served until his death in 1978. His cause for canonization is under way, and he has the title Blessed.

Msgr. Thomas J. Shelley, historian of the archdiocese, toured the exhibit and told CNY, “I think it’s just magnificent. It’s arranged so attractively. The content is excellent and so is the presentation.”

Sister Joan Curtin, C.N.D., director of the archdiocesan Catechetical Office, told CNY that the exhibit “makes the popes and the papacy real.”

“It’s a beautiful connection with the universal Church,” she said.

Assisting Father Morris in preparing the exhibit were Kate Feighery, archival manager, and Liz Alleva, assistant archivist.

Cardinal Dolan urged everyone to visit the Archives.

“Experts in sociology tell us that a community, to flourish, needs both a memory and dreams,” he said. “These are the memories of the archdiocese. Your dreams can never be fulfilled unless they’re grounded in memories, and memories without dreams become simple nostalgia. We have a great Archives to keep our memories alive, and we’re going to make our dreams a reality.”

The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday by appointment only: (914) 476-6333.