Pope John Paul II made a historic, 37-hour visit to Chicago in early October 1979 the first for a Polish pope enthusiastically welcomed by massive crowds.
Key events included a massive outdoor Mass at Grant Park on October 5, a visit to Five Holy Martyrs Church in Brighton Park, and a concert at Holy Name Cathedral.
Chicago Tribune: Key details of the 1979 visit:
Grant Park Mass: On October 5, 1979, the Pope celebrated an open-air Mass, delivering a homily on evangelization to a record-setting crowd.
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Polish Connection: The Pope visited the heavily Polish neighborhood of Pilsen and held a special, ticketed Mass at Five Holy Martyrs parish.
Key Stops: He visited Holy Name Cathedral, Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, and St. Peter’s Church.
Atmosphere: The city experienced tremendous excitement, with crowds cheering "Long live the Pope" and waving flags, notes the YouTube video.
Impact: The visit was considered a, massive civic and religious event, bringing together various communities and highlighting his message of faith, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago archives.
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