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Catholic University of America has opened an exhibit about Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the university during his apostolic journey to the U.S. There's a special website to the exhibit here.

A papal zucchetto, a museum-grade reproduction of the Letters of St. Peter and the chair Pope Benedict XVI used during his visit to Catholic University will be among the objects displayed as part of an exhibit that opens July 29 at CUA's Columbus School of Law. . . .

The exhibit, "Together in Faith: The Pope Visits Catholic University," presented by the University Archives, will feature three sections dedicated to planning the papal visit, papal-related contests such as the competition to design Pope Benedict XVI's chair, and various photos, banners and gifts from the visit.

In addition to the chair, objects will include the zucchetto, or white hat, the Holy Father wore upon his arrival to CUA and gave to Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., university president. A second papal gift to Father O'Connell, a third-century papyrus copy of the First Letter of St. Peter, will also be on display along with such items as a rosary blessed by the Pope and papal cards with the Pope's signature.

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Photo: CUA Publications

The University also has a separate website featuring more stories about the Pope's visit, including stories and pictures about the students' participation in competitions to design the altar and other papal furnishings, the gifts exchanges, public response to the visit and a video. This website is called Together in Faith: The Pope Visits Catholic University. It's well worth a browse.

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the enthusiastic crowd outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Photograph taken by Anthony Fiorini, University Photographer

Father O'Connell applauds Pope Benedict XVI in the Pryzbyla Center
Photograph taken by Anthony Fiorini, University Photographer

Here's a story about the gifts that were exchanged. As a former professor, Papa Ratzinger obviously knew that a reproduction of the Bodmer Papyrus, one of the great treasures in the Vatican Library, which was presented in November 2006 to the Pope by the Sally and Frank Hanna Family Foundation and the Solidarity Association (U.S.A.), as well as the Mater Verbi/Hanna Papyrus Trust, would be of immense value to scripture scholars, theologians and students of early Christian history. The Bodmer Papyrus 8 contains texts of the Letters of St. Peter.




Photographs taken by Anthony Fiorini, University Photographer

In gratitude for Catholic University's hospitality during his April 17 visit to campus, Pope Benedict XVI presented Father O'Connell with several gifts. The most prominent gift was a museum-grade reproduction of the ancient Bodmer Papyrus VIII. It is a facsimile of the oldest Greek manuscript of the Letters of St. Peter, which was once the final part of an ancient codex. The original document was written sometime in the third century, and it is stored in the Vatican Library. The Pope also presented a commemorative coin as a gift to Father O'Connell.

Pope Benedict XVI received several gifts from Father O'Connell, including a framed photograph of McMahon Hall, and a commemorative medal of the Pope's visit. In addition, in a private meeting before the papal address, Father O'Connell presented the Holy Father with a white silk zucchetto, or skullcap. It is customary that if the Pope is presented with a new zucchetto at a scheduled at a scheduled meeting, he will exchange the one he is wearing for the one offered.

Photograph taken by Anthony Fiorini, University Photographer

The website has some cute pictures of people having their photographs taken with il Papa (not):


Photograph taken by Chase McAlpine, Class of 2009


Photograph donated by the Office of the Dean of Students