On the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the spot where Pope Francis will canonize Father Junipero Serra at an open-air Mass in September, The archdiocese, basilica and Catholic University confirmed this week that the Holy Father would be celebrating Mass at the basilica during his visit to Washington. The cardinal spoke of his great excitement to welcome the Holy Father, but especially to witness “the energy of the young people of this campus” during the occasion, he said.
In addition to addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on Sept. 24 and a meeting with President Obama at the White House on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 23, Pope Francis will also celebrate Mass on the east portico of the basilica, which is adjacent to the CUA campus that afternoon using an altar and liturgical space designed by students from the university’s School of Architecture and Planning. The papal altar will then be used in the main sanctuary of the basilica from then on, said Msgr. Rossi.
A competition for designing the altar, papal chair and pieces of furniture that create the sanctuary will begin after the students’ finals, with a panel choosing the winning design in time to have it constructed for the Mass, said Washington Auxiliary Bishop Barry C. Knestout, a former student of architecture. Five CUA architecture students then asked Bishop Knestout, Msgr. Rossi and the cardinal for suggestions of what materials to use, and how to combine both modern elements and the style of the basilica into their design. While advising them to use their own creativity, Msgr. Rossi recommended the design be “timeless.”
Though Pope Francis will be third pope to visit the National Shrine and CUA, said President Garvey—after Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2008—it will be Pope Francis’ first papal visit to the United States and the first ever canonization of a saint on American soil. During his visit, the pope will also travel to New York to address the United Nations, and to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of the Families. The Vatican has also announced that Pope Francis will stop in Cuba immediately preceding his trip to America. Details of the Washington stop are not finalized and the archdiocese has not yet announced information beyond confirming the dates and the three Washington itinerary items. The faithful are being encouraged to sign up to receive emails and texts from the archdiocese at www.adw.org/papalvisit.
