History is made every day and every day historic events take place. One historic event that took place October 1^st, 1979 was the beginning of Pope John Paul II’s first trip as pope to the United States. This trip would be just one of the first of his 104 trips around the globe as well as his first of seven to the United States.

It was also during this trip that the pope marked other firsts, such as becoming the first pope to visit the White House and the national mall. The pope also made other important stops on that trip such as his visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York as well as his address to the United Nations. It was during the address that the pope said “I hope that the United Nations will ever remain the supreme forum of peace and justice, the authentic seat of freedom of peoples and individuals in their longing for a better future”. In addition the pope also celebrated mass at many locations including Washington D.C., Boston and at Yankee Stadium. This trip also renewed the friendship between the United States and the Vatican as it was the first papal trip to America in 14 years and the second one overall.

All in all this trip by Pope John Paul II to the United States marked a renewal in the Church to promote democracy over communism and unity over division. The Holy Father’s trip also pleased many Catholics in America because it began a new era in the Catholic Church in which the Shepard was with his flock in the meadow.