Pope Saint John Paul II in America

Pope Saint John Paul II was the most widely traveled Pope in history, visiting nearly 130 countries during his 26 year Papacy.  He also visited the United States seven times, ranging in duration from a few hours to ten days.  During his visits, the Pope said numerous Masses, visited basilicas and cathedrals, addressed the United Nations, met with U.S. Presidents and with ordinary Americans, and brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to millions of people.  He visited 23 cities in 17 states and the District of Columbia.  His record of travel within the United States is astonishing.

“From so many quarters—Catholics, Protestants and Jews—America has opened her heart to me,” the Pope said on arriving in America for the first time as Pope on 1 October 1979 at Boston’s Logan Airport.  “And on my part I come to you—America—with sentiments of friendship, reverence and esteem. I come as one who already knows you and loves you, as one who wishes you to fulfill completely your noble destiny of service to the world.”  (See https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1979/october/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19791001_usa_boston-welcome.html )

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla first visited the United States in 1976.  Three years later in October 1979, he returned as Pope John Paul II and visited Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago and Washington DC.  He addressed the United Nations in New York.  He offered Masses before huge crowds on Boston Common, the National Mall in Washington DC, and Grant Park in Chicago.  He visited the National Shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia.  

Two of Pope St. John Paul II’s visits were only a few hours in duration.  On these occasions, he was making a refueling stop in Alaska as part of pastoral trips to the Far East.  

During his visits to the United States, Pope St. John Paul II met with three U.S. Presidents on six occasions.  He met with President Jimmy Carter during his 1979 visit.  He with President Ronald Reagan in Alaska during his 1984 stopover and again in Miami during his 1987 U.S. visit.  He met with President Bill Clinton on three occasions:  Denver in 1993, Newark NJ in 1995 and St Louis in 1999.  

Perhaps one of Pope St. John Paul II’s most inspiring moments in the United States occurred during the Welcoming Ceremony at Denver’s International Airport on 12 August 1993.  With fervent pro-abortion President Clinton standing near him, the Pope said to America, “The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protest the human person."  (See https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1993/august/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19930812_welcome-denver-gmg.html  )

 
During his seven U.S. visits, Pope St. John Paul II held events and celebrated Masses in sixteen cathedrals or basilicas including St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, and the Mission Delores Basilica in San Francisco.  

 
Pope St. John Paul II celebrated Mass and held events at 18 sporting venues and convention centers.  This included Baltimore’s Oriole Park in October 1995, New Jersey’s Giants Stadium in October 1995, Los Angeles’s Dodger Stadium and Coliseum in September 1987, Denver’s Mile High Stadium in August 1993, the Louisiana Super Dome in September 1987,  and New York’s Madison Square Garden in October 1979. 

 
Pope St. John Paul II celebrated Mass at nine outdoor venues, including some of America’s most iconic venues.  Near the conclusion of his first U.S. visit, the Pope celebrated Mass on the National Mall in Washington DC.  During his October 1995 visit, the Pope celebrated Mass in New York’s Central Park.  As part of World Youth Day 1993, the Pope celebrated Mass at Cherry Creek State Park near Denver, Colorado.  

 
I was privileged to be in attendance for one of Pope St. John Paul II’s events.  With a group from the Diocese of Camden, I attended the Pope’s Mass at Giants Stadium on 5 October 1995.  Despite the pouring rain in a stadium with no roof, the Papal Mass was one of the greatest spiritual moments of my life.  Building on Jesus’s proclamation “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” in Luke 10:9, the Pope reminded Americans of our responsibility to the poor and the unborn.  “The right to life is the first of all rights,” he said.  “It is the foundation of democratic liberties and the keystone of the edifice of civil society. Both as Americans and as followers of Christ, American Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all its stages and in every condition” [emphasis in original].  (See https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19951005_arc-newark.html  ) 

 
Pope St. John Paul II had a great love for America and for Americans.   He showed that love each and every time that he visited our country.  May he continue to intercede for our country and our people in these politically, socially and morally turbulent times.