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 Visit of Pope Paul VI to the United States and the United Nations, New York City Scott 416-419 (1965) On October 4, 1965, Vatican City issued the set of four stamps shown above, commemorating the visit of Pope Paul VI to the United States, which occurred on the date of the stamps' issuance. Pope Paul VI's visit to the United States was one of historical importance. Building on a legacy that would lead to his being nicknamed "The Pilgrim Pope", this was Pope Paul's third international trip following his coronation in October of 1963 (having previously visited the Holy Land and India). This was the first visit by a pope to North America, to the United States and to the United Nations. 
 Left: Commemorative Plaque at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York Photo by Farragutful, from Wikimedia Commons, Used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Right: Pope Paul VI arriving at the United Nations, October 4, 1965 From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain The Pope's one-day, whirlwind tour of America began with his departure from Rome in the early morning hours of October 4. He touched down at Kennedy International Airport in New York around 9:30 am and, over the next few hours, visited Saint Patrick's Cathedral, met with President Lyndon Johnson and spent time at the residence of Francis Cardinal Spellman. In mid-afternoon, he arrived at the United Nations, and presented the first speech by a pope at the UN. He implored the body that "mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind". After the UN speech, the Pope went to the nearby Church of the Holy Family to meet with representatives of various religious faiths. Following this meeting, he returned to Cardinal Spellman's residence for a brief rest, and then headed for the Bronx, where he celebrated Mass before a packed Yankee Stadium. After the Mass, the Pope left Yankee Stadium and proceeded to the New York World's Fair to visit the Vatican Pavilion, whose main attraction was the magnificent statue by Michelangelo, "The Pieta" (which is depicted on two of the stamps shown below, issued in 1964 to commemorate the Vatican's participation at the Fair): 
 
 The Vatican at the New York World's Fair, 1964-1965 Scott 383-386 (1964) Upon leaving the Fair, Pope Paul VI was taken to Kennedy Airport. At around 11 pm, his flight departed and began the return trip to Rome, ending a tumultuous and historic visit to the United States. The article referenced below, by Father Herbert Phinney, provides a detailed review of the Pope's trip and itinerary. It is a worthy piece memorializing the trip and its significance. REFERENCES: |
