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WHEN POPE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH ARRIVES WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK, IT WILL MARK ONLY THE SECOND TIME A POPE HAS VISITED THE NATION'S CAPITAL. IT WILL ALSO MARK ONLY THE SECOND PAPAL VISIT TO CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
PHILIP STEWART TAKES US BACK TO RELIEVE THE HISTORY MADE BY POPE JOHN PAUL THE 2ND IN 1979.
Frank Persico with the Catholic University, remembers Pope John Paul II's visit to the area, "When Pope Benedict decided he was coming, I went back through my photo albums and I did pull out a bunch of pictures. And brought back the memories as if it were yesterday."
THE FALL OF 1979, HISTORY IS MADE AS POPE JOHN PAUL II BECOMES THE FIRST POPE TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES.
"He was a kind of world-wide celebrity, especially at that time early in his terms as pope," said Craig Parker, General Council with the Catholic University.
"Very charismatic. Very young. People thought of him skiing in the alps and just bounding around with lots of energy," said Persico.
FOR LONGTIME MEMBERS OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, POPE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH'S UPCOMING VISIT TO CAMPUS IS STIRRING UP MEMORIES OF THE PAPAL ADDRESS GIVEN HERE NEARLY THIRTY YEARS AGO.
THE '79 VISIT INCLUDED A MEETING ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THEN PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, A SERVICE AT TRINITY COLLEGE IN NORTHWEST, AND OF COURSE AN ADDRESS TO A LARGE CROWD AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
"The only place we had on campus that was big enough to get all of the Catholic educators together from around the country that the pope wanted to speak to was our old gym, which had been built at the end of WWI," said Persico, "When I saw that on TV, I was astounded. I said where is that? I couldn't believe it was the gym, you couldn't recognize it at all."
"I had no idea what to expect. But when he came into the room, the place erupted, " said Parker.
POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND DELIVERED A MAJOR SPEECH THAT DAY ON CATHOLIC HIGHER EDUCATION. WHILE CROWDS GATHERED NEAR THE UNIVERSITY HOPING FOR A GLIMPSE OF THE PONTIFF AFTER HIS ADDRESS.
Parker recalls in detail the day he saw Pope John Paul II, "He came out the steps of the Basillica and walked down into the crowd. The pictures show the pope just totally surrounded by students."
"There were everybody just reaching out their hands and I reached out my hand and he brushed my hand," Persico said.
BOTH CRAIG AND FRANK PLAN TO ATTEND NEXT WEEK'S MASS AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. THEY'RE HOPEFUL ANOTHER GENERATION OF STUDENTS JUST LIKE THEM, WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR OWN MEMORIES. MEMORIES THEY KNOW WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
"It clearly is important for the university because of the opportunity to say to the world, this is why we're different, this is what's special about this university," Parker said.
"That's a moment that's in my mind. It will never go away," Persico said, "It was a great thing happening in '79."
PHILIP STEWART, NEWSCHANNEL 8.
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