October 4, 1965: The First Visit to America by a Pope: Paul VI, And Commentary from the Curator

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][minti_gallery ids=”33794,29630,23267″ columns=”3″ style=”2″][minti_spacer][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]This is quite a unique item of historic significance. It is a menu that was used aboard ‘Shepherd One’, the Pope’s airplane, when Paul VI came to speak to the United Nations in October 1965. It was the first time ever that a Pope had come to the United States.

The menu states that he was here on ‘The Journey for Peace.’ He quotes St. Francis, “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.” This was because it was during the Vietnam War and he had come to address the United Nations about the war and about the need to resolve this conflict by finding a peaceful resolution to it.

You not only see the Papal seal inside the menu, but also that Gethsemani cheese and fruitcake, from the Trappist Monastery in Kentucky, was served as one of the dessert courses.

Also, he was flying Trans World Airlines, commonly referred to as TWA, which, of course, does not exist anymore. It was the traditional airline used for the pope, giving it the nickname “Traveling with Angels,” throughout the world with the pope.

So, this menu was used on the flight back to the Vatican after his historic journey.

The second item  is a unique piece that looks like a fairly large book but when opened, it has an image of Pope Paul VI walking on a red carpet greeting people. When you flip it over it says:

On this piece of carpet, specially made by Gulistan Carpet, (Division of J. P. Stevens and Co) His Holiness entered the Vatican Pavilion of the New York World’s Fair on the occasion of his unprecedented visit. October 4th, 1965.

When the page is turned there is a piece of the red carpet.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”10″][vc_column][vc_column_text]

  Pope St. Paul VI

Those who knew him best describe Pope Paul as a brilliant man, deeply spiritual, humble, and reserved and gentle, a man of ‘infinite courtesy.’ He was one of the most traveled popes in history and was the first to visit five continents. The wealth of intellectual information he left in his many addresses and letters as well as in all his major pronouncements is staggering.

He successfully concluded Vatican II, and in Church history he will be remembered for his rigorous reform of the Roman curia, for his address to the United Nations in 1965 and for his great attention to the many social problems apparent in the latter part of the 20th century.

Paul VI died August 6, 1978, the feast of the Transfiguration. His funeral was marked by its simplicity. In accordance with his wishes, there is no monument over his grave.

He will be forever remembered since his canonization on October 9, 2018.  

Pope St. Paul VI, Papal Artifacts offers our gratitude to you for the gift of your life to our Church.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][minti_image img=”34914″ lightbox=”1″][minti_spacer][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][minti_video]https://youtu.be/1A41HHKp23I[/minti_video][minti_spacer][/vc_column][/vc_row]