Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute Unveils New Exhibit: “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World”
Exhibit will feature bronze bust of Pope John Paul II, accompanied by gifts from the Pope to President Reagan throughout diplomatic partnership
SIMI VALLEY, CA – The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) announced today the opening of its new exhibit: “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World.” The exhibit tells the story of President Reagan and Saint John Paul II’s enduring collaboration, enabling visitors to experience their lives and impact in parallel. The Pope and President Reagan were united by their unfaltering opposition to communism and dedication to promoting world peace, and their relationship reestablished diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Vatican.
“While President Reagan and Pope John Paul II’s legacies are enduring, ‘The Pope and The President’ exhibit highlights the significant ways in which their paths converged to have a profound impact on modern history,” said Melissa Giller, Chief Marketing Officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. “The diplomacy between President Reagan and Saint John Paul II contributed to the downfall of communism and the freedom that the modern world enjoys today, and it’s important we remember and celebrate their lasting impact.”
The exhibit will feature eight overview panels, each dedicated to a different chapter of Saint John Paul II’s life – from his childhood to joining the priesthood to his first meeting with President Reagan which marked the beginning of their long-lasting friendship and partnership. The night before the exhibit’s debut, the RRPFI will unveil The Pope Saint John Paul II bronze bust, gifted by the Friends of John Paul II Foundation and sculpted by American sculptor Gordon Kray. Following the exhibit’s completion, the bust will remain permanently on display at the Reagan Library.
Additional objects in this exhibit include:
- Documents preceding the four meetings between President Reagan and Pope John Paul II
- Various clothing items worn by Nancy Reagan when meeting with the Pope, including the dress she wore to their first meeting
- Souvenirs from the 1984 meeting in Alaska, including medals from Pope John Paul II
- Several gifts from the Pope to the Reagans, including an ivory Madonna and blessed medallions
- A pair of Louis XIV-style armchairs used by President Reagan and Pope John Paul II
- A certificate granting Pope John Paul II's papal blessing to President Reagan and his family
- A bible gifted to President Reagan by Pope John Paul II
- A collage of original signatures of both President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II
- The 1998 Cadillac De Ville Parade Phaeton "Popemobile," custom-built for John Paul II
- A ciborium used during Pope John Paul II’s 1987 historic visit to Los Angeles
This exhibit is made possible through generous support from the Knights of Columbus and other donors. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.ReaganLibrary.com/Pope.
About the Reagan Foundation and Institute
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles – limited government, individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride. RRPFI is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, the award-winning Reagan Leadership Academy, and the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s mission in Washington, D.C.
The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and his First Lady. More information is available at www.reaganfoundation.org.
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