Backgrounder
prepared by
Department of Communications
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE · Washington, DC 20017
202-541-3200 · 202-541-3173 fax · www.usccb.org/comm
Papal Visits to the United States
In October, 1965, Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States. His trip included a first time papal visit to the United Nations.
Pope John Paul II visited the United States seven times during his papacy:
- 1979 (10/1 - 10/7) Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago and Washington, DC
- 1981 (2/27) Anchorage, Alaska – stopover/several hours
- 1984 (5/2) Fairbanks, Alaska – stopover/several hours
- 1987 (9/10 – 9/19) Miami, Columbia, SC, New Orleans, San Antonio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit
- 1993 (8/12 – 8/15) Denver (World Youth Day)
- 1995 (10/4 – 10/8) Newark, NJ, New York (incldng Brooklyn), Baltimore
- 1999 (1/26 – 1/27) St. Louis
Pope John Paul II met with a U.S. president during each of the following visits to the United States:
- 1979 – President Carter (Washington, DC)
- 1984 – President Reagan (Fairbanks, Alaska: first time a U.S. president and pope met outside of the White House or Vatican)
- 1987 – President Reagan (Los Angeles)
- 1993 – President GHW Bush (Denver)
- 1995 – President Clinton (Newark, NJ)
- 1999 – President Clinton (St. Louis)
A papal visit to the United Nations has occurred a total of three times while the pope visited the U.S.
- Paul VI – 1965
- John Paul II – 1979, 1995