Pope Paul VI visits the U.S., Oct. 4, 1965 On this day in 1965,
Pope Paul VI made a one-day visit to the United States. In doing
so, he became the first pontiff to visit the Western Hemisphere.
Paul VI was also the first pope to leave Italy since 1809. As he
stepped down from his plane at Kennedy International Airport,
the pope was greeted warmly by U Thant, the secretary general of
the United Nations. “Greetings to you, America,” he said. “The
first pope to set foot on your land blesses you with all his
heart. He renews, as it were, the gesture of your discoverer,
Christopher Columbus, when he planted the Cross of Christ on
this blessed soil.”Continue Reading The 14-hour papal visit was
confined entirely to New York City. He wore a gleaming white
robe and a red cape lined with gold thread as he greeted
AmericanRoman Catholic officials and other official guests. In
the course of the day, the pope traveled to St. Patrick’s
Cathedral on New York’s Fifth Avenue. There, speaking from notes
in lightly accented Eng