On the first full day of his historic apostolic journey to the United States, Pope Francis celebrated an outdoor Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with 30,000 faithful gathered on Catholic University’s campus. CUA students lined the parade route as the popemobile made its way along the University Mall prior to Mass. They cheered wildly for the man known as the “people’s pope,” and he returned their enthusiasm with a smile as bright as the day.
Officer Larry Fogg, a 30-year veteran of Catholic University’s Department of Public Safety, was stationed on the walkway behind the Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies on Wednesday, Sept. 23. He was there all day keeping watch with a security team that included police officers from surrounding areas. Fogg had no view of the University Mall or the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; no view of the Jumbotrons set up on campus. Yet at 3:50 p.m., he knew Pope Francis had arrived on campus.
“There was a rumbling that got louder and louder turning into a roar,” he said. “I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel the excitement. Just by the sound of the crowd, I had an image of what it might have been like when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.”
On Monroe Street at one of four security checkpoints run by the United States Secret Service, sophomore David Antol, an architecture major, was at his volunteer post. There had been long lines at this particular checkpoint through most of the day, keeping him so busy that he lost track of time. Then he heard the cheering. “It took me by surprise. The crowd was so loud. I felt like I was standing outside the Super Bowl,” said Antol.
The picture-perfect first day of fall began for the pontiff with a visit to the White House, followed by a public parade along the Ellipse, and a prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle with the U.S. bishops. On large screens set up on campus, the congregation watched the Holy Father take the nation’s capital by storm on his first full day in the United States while they awaited his arrival to celebrate Mass on the East Portico of the Basilica at 4:15.
The carillon bells in the Knights’ Tower of the Basilica rang out across campus as the popemobile exited the driveway of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and turned onto 4th Street toward the Basilica.
“Hearing the bells reminded me of those same bells ringing across campus in March 2013 the day the papal conclave elected Pope Francis,” said Amanda Sheffer, clinical assistant professor of German and faculty-in-residence at Reardon House. “I was teaching in Shahan Hall. The bells were so loud and there was so much joy and excitement, it was impossible to finish class. And now, two and a half years later, here he was.”
Sheffer was a volunteer stationed on Harewood Road, which was closed to public traffic, on the west side of the Basilica. She and four other volunteers were on a “directions” detail for VIP guests who parked in the Basilica lot across the street.
“I saw multiple Supreme Court justices, senators, representatives, and a presidential candidate,” said Sheffer. “But nothing compared to the excitement when the bells rang out.” From her post on Harewood Road, Sheffer caught sight of the popemobile pulling into the circle in front of the Basilica.
It then turned toward Gibbons Hall and traveled along the south end of the University Mall, where the crowds standing on both sides of the road behind bike rack fencing erupted in cheers. Many chanted ¡Viva El Papa!, not only to honor the Pope from Argentina, but because so many Hispanic Americans had come to participate in this papal Mass during which a Spanish missionary would be canonized.
The motorcade turned at McGivney Hall onto Senior Walk, the sidewalk where seniors line up before processing to their Commencement ceremonies each May.
From a rooftop on Father O’Connell Hall, NBC News had a perfect view of the motorcade and the sea of thousands on the University Mall. Nightly News anchor Lester Holt broke into regular programming with a special report tracking the Pope’s arrival on campus for viewers nationwide.
ABC News had a spot at the other end of the O’Connell roof. A 10-level bleacher-style media riser set up between McGivney and Shahan halls held more than 350 local, national, and international journalists all vying for photos, video, and live shots of the Catholic Church’s 266th pope, arguably the world’s most popular figure. He had only been in the U.S. for 24 hours and Americans couldn’t get enough of him.
Inside McGivney Hall, approximately 100 deacons who would be giving communion were gathered with student volunteers, their escorts when it came time to head to their assigned locations later in the Mass.
“We all crowded around the small windows on the first floor of McGivney in hopes that we might get to see Pope Francis drive by. As I stood at the window with about 15 people, all way closer together than humanly comfortable, something profound happened within our little group,” said student volunteer Brooke Paris, a senior theology major. “As we waited for Pope Francis to pass by, we all put our phones away. We decided that we wanted to simply be in this moment, and fully take it in.”
Section D, a standing-room area outsideMcGivney and right next to the media riser, was packed with CUA students.
“There was not a quiet soul in the crowd. At first we were all following the Pope’s path on the big screen. Then it was as if a wave carried over Section D. The sheer excitement was heartwarming. For all of us to have such love for this one person is amazing,” said Claudia Seckinger, a junior psychology major.
Even with police cars and black SUVs leading and following the white Jeep Wrangler popemobile, the presence of Pope Francis as pastor was the main focus of attention as he turned from side to side waving to and blessing the crowds, and smiling as he looked upon his flock.
“From my seat at the back of the popemobile, I could see both the joy on the face of the Pope every time he turned and … the affection for the Pope written across the faces of thousands of students,” said Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington and chancellor of Catholic University. “CUA did itself proud.”
As the popemobile approached McMahon Hall and turned left, the plan was to keep going down to Harewood Road and head back to the Basilica.
At McMahon Hall, he was cheered by volunteers assembled on the steps who had been working inside the building all day at “command central.” The motorcade headed in the direction of Mary’s Garden at the Basilica. Then this Pope, who has been charting his own course since he became the successor to St. Peter in 2013, had a surprise. He signaled to his security detail that he wanted to go back for one more lap through campus. Senior architecture major Megan Ross, a volunteer on the steps, may have been one of the few who was not surprised. “I spent the spring 2015 semester studying at CUA’s Rome Center and was lucky to see the Pope twice, and I had actually seen him do that in St. Peter’s Square,” said Ross.
Even though this was not her first time seeing Pope Francis, Ross said, “There is definitely something special about seeing him on our campus. I had the opportunity to help with a lot of the volunteer planning process, and it was a very satisfying feeling to see all of our hard work pay off as the entire day went so smoothly.”
Pope Francis’s visit to the United States — during which he also traveled to New York City and then to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families — was a visit of firsts. It was his first visit to the United States, the first time a pope addressed a joint session of Congress, the first canonization on U.S. soil, and the first time an American university had hosted three popes. Pope John Paul II visited in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
Those three visits to CUA, said University President John Garvey, “are a reminder of The Catholic University of America’s unique relationship to the Holy See as the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States.”
Throughout the day, the campus had taken on a festival-like atmosphere as Catholics from across the country mingled, bought food and souvenirs, watched the Pope on large screens, and basked in a sunny fall day. But when the celebration of Mass was just minutes away and the prelude music filled the air, the campus took on a reverent silence and the University’s 3.6-acre mall suddenly became a sacred space of worship.
“As Pope Francis began the first blessing and we heard him speak for the first time, my friends and I felt the rush of the wind consume the congregation. It had been stagnant with only small gusts of wind earlier that day. I truly felt like the presence of the Holy Spirit was with all of us,” said Seckinger.
The historic canonization of Blessed Junípero Serra came right after the introductory rites. The Spanish missionary was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988. He was an 18th-century Franciscan friar born in Mallorca off the coast of Spain in 1713. After joining the priesthood, he became a professor of philosophy. He left Spain in 1749 to begin his life as a missionary in Mexico, and was then sent by Spain’s King Carlos III to establish missions in what is now the state of California.
“Serra is somewhat unique in being regarded not only as a religious figure, but also as the ‘founder of California.’ A pioneer of pioneers,” said Rev. John Ford, a CUA theology professor and expert inHispanic theology. “Serra’s canonization is a recognition of the centuries-long contribution of Hispanics to the Catholic faith in the United States.”
Large groups from California, many of them of Hispanic descent, attended the Mass to witness the canonization of Saint Junípero Serra. The celebration of Mass primarily in Spanish was a source of pride for many in the congregation.
“When I learned that the Pope’s Mass would be in Spanish, I literally jumped for joy. It seemed so appropriate for our Latin-American Pope to come to America, to canonize a Spanish-speaking missionary who worked to spread the Gospel, and to do it in Spanish,” said Maria Daniela Thurber, a junior, who is president of CUA’s Spanish Club.
“My love of Pope Francis is beyond measure. He is the first Latin- American Pope and he has instilled in the entire Hispanic community a sentiment of renewal of our faith. He has encouraged in us the vocation to serve others by promoting selfless love,” said Thurber.
The Mass also included readings in English and the Native American Chochenyo language. Following the homily, a universal prayer included lines read in Korean, American Sign Language, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Creole, and Igbo.
Pope Francis’s homily was delivered in Spanish with English translation on the large screens. He began with the simple verse, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” He said, “This command resonates with the desire we all have for a fulfilling life, a meaningful life, a joyful life.”
He ended his homily with the words of the saint he had just canonized. “‘Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!’ To him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb…”
The celebration of the Mass was a joint effort by the Basilica, the Archdiocese of Washington, the USCCB, and Catholic University. The University community put a unique stamp on several elements.
More than 1,000 priests, bishops, and cardinals concelebrated. Among them were many alumni and faculty. It took 1,012 volunteers to make the day happen, 429 of whom were CUA students.
Music for the Mass was provided by the CUA Symphony Orchestra and five choirs, including the University Chamber Choir. The orchestra performed under the direction of Simeone Tartaglione, the orchestra’s music director, while the chamber choir was conducted by Leo Nestor, Justine Bayard Ward Professor and director of choral studies and CUA’s Institute of Sacred Music.
Several alumni and faculty members composed original works for the visit, including Nestor. His compositions for the Mass included the introit, the communion antiphon, and an original work, “I am the Living Bread,” which was performed during the Communion rite. The altar, ambo, and papal chair were designed by CUA students from the School of Architecture and Planning. The Archdiocese of Washington and the Basilica sponsored a design competition at the school that encouraged architecture students to submit designs for the papal furniture. A similar design competition took place at the architecture school for the 2008 visit of Pope Benedict.
A six-member jury selected the first-place design, which featured arches that mimic the architecture of the Romanesque-Byzantine style of the Basilica, where it is now students Ariadne Cerritelli, Matthew Hoffman, and Joseph Taylor made up the winning design team. The three young designers were seated up front, not far from the altar, with their families.
“Seeing Pope Francis use the furniture that our team designed was an incredible experience,” said Taylor. “When Pope Francis kissed our altar during the Mass, the significance of what the three of us had designed really hit. I am truly blessed for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Getting ready to host a pope, not to mention 30,000 people, took planning. There were meetings with the Secret Service, volunteer coordination and credentialing, and construction.
Parking meters, light poles, and benches had to be removed. Banners were hung. Staging for the outdoor sanctuary and musicians was built. Fencing was erected. McMahon parking lot closed down days before the event to accommodate 20 satellite trucks, tents, and equipment. The Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center was converted to a media filing center for hundreds of journalists.
There were countless to-do lists. But the most important advance work came in the form of spiritual preparation. At the start of the semester, the Office of Campus Ministry launched a series of events with the theme “Walk with Francis: Joy of the Gospel.” The events were tied to the Archdiocese of Washington’s #WalkwithFrancis campaign, which encouraged parishioners to take a pledge to follow Pope Francis’s example by serving in their communities.
CUA sponsored a day of service, which enlisted more than 500 members of the CUA community, who spread out to volunteer in local neighborhoods. Other events included a Pope trivia night, a film screening, a theater presentation, Masses offered in Spanish to help students prepare their responses, and lectures and panel discussions. Cut-out footprints lined the Pryzbyla Center allowing students to share how they were walking with Francis. The University Orchestra performed their papalMass repertoire for clients at SOME (So Others Might Eat), which serves poor and homeless people in Washington, D.C.
Events and initiatives honoring Pope Francis have continued throughout the semester. A major conference on Laudato Si’, his encyclical on the environment, was held in late October. The welcome banners are still up, and people are still sharing their stories and lasting impressions.
It seems everyone has a story or a special moment from Sept. 23.
David Antol, the student volunteer on Monroe Street who never saw the Pope or the Mass, has this highlight from the day: “There was an elderly woman sitting on a brick wall. She arrived with no ticket, but she somehow hoped to see the Pope. A man came up to me with an extra ticket and he told me he wanted me to be the one to give it to her. Her reaction was amazing. She was so happy and so grateful. That made my day.”
Amanda Sheffer’s highlight includes a papal encounter. After the Mass she was still stationed on Harewood Road when the Pope’s small Fiat left the Basilica and turned right for an unscheduled visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor. “Since it was a secured zone, there were just the five of us there and he waved to our small group as he went by. I am still amazed that after such a long day, he would have his windows down and acknowledge a little group of volunteers. I am very humbled by the example he set to see everyone as important.”
Later that night, Sheffer cooked dinner for the students in Reardon House, where she is a faculty-in-residence. The students compared all the pictures they took, examined social media accounts to see what their friends saw, and reflected on their day, she said. “We kept the news on and there was a CUA faculty member from the business school, Andreas Widmer, on CNN. The students could see how important their university is and its major honor in hosting Pope Francis. It was apparent the day would be something they would always talk about when they reflected on their years at CUA,” said Sheffer.
Claudia Seckinger, the resident assistant at Reardon, was there with Sheffer that night. She says weeks after the visit they were still sharing stories. “The presence of the Holy Father is still affecting each and every person on this campus. The strength in his homily reminds me to ‘keep moving forward.’ This past year has personally been difficult for me and my family. We have faced some obstacles. Pope Francis reminds all of us to have joy in our lives, and keep moving forward.”
Many alumni returned to campus for the papal Mass. Some received tickets through their parishes or other means. Many got a ticket through a lottery held by the Office of Alumni Relations.
Kevin Ryan, B.A. 1989, who “walks with Francis” every day as president and CEO of Covenant House, was one of them. “I have never been prouder to be a CUA alumnus. The Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on this campus I love was heart-opening, inspiring, and joy-filled.”
Victor David, B.A. 2014, a current master of ceremonies at the Basilica, was asked to fulfill similar duties for the papal Mass. “Being able to play even a small role in making that day go so well will always be one of the greatest honors of my life.”
It was a reunion for many alumni who arrived hours before the Mass. Lisa Geis, B.A. 1988, and Tracey McCormack, B.A. 1988, were catching up when they realized this would be the first time they were attending Mass together since their Baccalaureate Mass. “It’s pretty cool to share this experience with old friends,” said Geis.
For some alumni, it was not their first papal experience at CUA.
“I transferred to CUA at the moment of three popes in three months: the August passing of Paul VI, the September installation and passing of John Paul I, and the October election of John Paul II,” said Carmen Nanko-Fernández, B.A. 1980, M.A. 1984, D.Min. 1991, professor of Hispanic theology and ministry at Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. In 1979, she entered the student lottery and won a ticket to witness John Paul II’s address to faculty in higher education.
“In what seems like a lifetime later, in the semester of my promotion to full professor of Hispanic theology and ministry, I entered another lottery, as an alum, and was gifted with the rare opportunity to see up close and hear yet another pope at my alma mater.”
Later on the evening of Sept. 23, Nanko-Fernández was walking down North Capitol Street at dusk. “A motorcade approached with its distinctive Fiat 500L. Six strangers, African Americans and Latinas, we started jumping up and down, all inhibition gone, waving at the driver-side tinted window, excited just to know Francisco was passing by. Suddenly above the roof of the car from the passenger side a white-sleeved arm emerged and a hand waved in our direction. We had been seen by the Pope! In a flash he was gone, leaving six strangers stunned by a blessing that made us, in that moment, a community celebrating a touch of the sacred.”