Pope John Paul II exhibit reaches people of all faiths

    You must be excited that the exhibit on Blessed John Paul II is now open to the public at the New Orleans Museum of Art. What are your most vivid memories of his 1987 visit?
    I was one of the masters of ceremony for the outdoor Mass at the University of New Orleans, and, like everyone else, I remember the rain coming down in buckets as we were waiting for the Mass to get started. We all got wet, and then after we got wet, the Holy Father arrived, and the rain lessened. By the time Mass started, the rain was over. I was protected from the rain somewhat because I was under the canopy of the papal altar, but even under the canopy, there were puddles all over the temporary sanctuary. I remember that Mass as a very spiritual experience and a very significant moment for our city. It was a time of great blessing to our archdiocese. It certainly was an occasion of healthy pride for Archbishop Hannan. He really was the person responsible for inviting the Holy Father and for making sure he was warmly welcomed and well taken care of while he was here.
    You were rector of Notre Dame Seminary at the time. Didn’t the pope stay right next door in the archbishop’s residence?
    Yes. I remember something very fondly about what happened after the Mass. The Holy Father drove back to the archbishop’s residence in the popemobile, and he drove around the circle in front of the seminary. There was a Polish choir that was singing to him. It was all set up by Archbishop Hannan’s secretary, who was of Polish descent. The pope heard the choir and his eyes lit up, of course. He tried to open the door of the popemobile, but the Secret Service personnel closed it and said no. Then Archbishop Hannan decided he was going to be more courageous, and he opened the door, and it got slammed shut again. Unfortunately, there was no way the security team was going to let the Holy Father get out to mingle in the midst of the thousands of people who were there. So, Archbishop Hannan lost that round. He didn’t lose too many.
    What are your hopes for the exhibit?
    We are asking God’s blessing upon us and on the exhibit that it will not be just a museum project but also a spiritual experience. We’re delighted to be presenting this exhibit in the archdiocese, but we know it will have a wider impact on people of our state and many neighboring states. I cannot express adequate thanks both to the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, which is co-sponsoring the exhibit, as well as to the New Orleans Museum of Art, which has provided such a beautiful space for the photographs, sacred artifacts and sacred artwork that will be displayed. Scott Peck and R.J. Machacek of the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas have been amazing in sharing their expertise and their artwork, and Susan Taylor of NOMA has been a joy to work with.
    None of this would have happened if not for the leadership, commitment and perseverance of Wendy Vitter, who coordinated every step of the project for the archdiocese. I’m so thankful to see the fruits of her labor. I also see this very much as an exhibit that can be enjoyed and appreciated by people of many different faiths. Rabbi Ed Cohn of Temple Sinai remarked how Blessed John Paul II was, from his childhood, a devoted friend of the Jewish people. There was a Jewish mother who would make two lunches each day – one for her son and one for the future pope. As Rabbi Cohn said, Pope John Paul II was a man who truly had been fed and was continually fed by a vital and dynamic faith. He exemplified for the entire world throughout his long and worthy life what it means to have faith. He knew that to have faith was to know that we will never be hungry and that we can take care of each other, just as our great Shepherd, who loves us all, wants us to do.
    There is heightened awareness right now of the papacy and all that it means because of the preparations being made to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
    It really is providential that this exhibit is taking place right now. Pope Benedict XVI was the successor of Blessed John Paul II, and I know there will be intense interest in the life, the ministry and the leadership of Blessed John Paul. The exhibit also recaptures for us his visit to New Orleans and to the United States, and we have a special opportunity to look again at that visit and what it meant to us long ago. His visit had long-term spiritual effects on so many in this community and beyond. Reflecting on my memories of 1987, I recall being amazed at just how much the interfaith community embraced John Paul II and welcomed him as a holy and loving shepherd.
    Is there one piece of artwork that really strikes you?
    I think it is the bronze crucifix done by Gib Singleton, whose version of the bowed cross was used by Pope John Paul II as his crosier. It was such a tremendous symbol of the suffering Christ, but also the Christ who was resurrected. As we know, John Paul II always said that it is Christ who is the shepherd, and he would follow the lead of Christ. He carried that crosier wherever he went. There are pictures of him using it here in New Orleans. 
    Can this be an opportunity for those young Catholics who have only read about Blessed John Paul II to come to a better understanding of who he was?
    Yes. Some in the young church or the young adult church would have no recollection of his visit – some of them were not even born or some were too young to remember it. That’s one of the reasons this exhibit is so important. We can go back and remember what took place in this historic city during the historic moment, when the pope of the universal Catholic Church came here to visit us. It was often said of John Paul II that he did not want people to have to come to Rome to see the pope. He was a missionary pope, and he went out to visit them and to bring God’s presence to them. My prayer is that all those who come here will not only see a piece of the history of John Paul II and the archdiocese but also truly get a glimpse of this man’s holiness, teaching and courageous leadership. We pray that those who come to see the exhibit will also embrace a spiritual renewal. We can be sure that Blessed John Paul II will be praying for each of us.
    Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.