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Papal Visits

As the national Catholic university in the United States, the campus has hosted the past three pontiffs during their visits to the country.

A Tower spread which features students giving their thoughts on Pope John Paul II’s visit.

October 5, 1979 Tower

Tower staff reported on the anticipation building up on the campus leading to Pope John Paul II’s visit. The newspapers interviewed students and provided a ground level snapshot of the student perspective of their historic visit.

April 18, 2008 Tower

A full-page photographic spread, chronicling Pope Benedict XIV’s time at Catholic University and Washington, DC. During his visit, the Pope delivered an address on Catholic education in the Pryzbyla Center.

“Walk with Francis” volunteer t-shirt, 2015

As part of his 2015 visit to the United States, Pope Francis celebrated the canonization Mass for St. Junípero Serra on the steps of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. For this September 23 event, volunteers were provided these shirts to help identify them in the crowds.