The Catholic church has had a major influence on New Orleans from the start. Jesuit missionaries held some of their first services in what is now the Crescent City, and Catholics are responsible for institutions like St. Louis Cathedral, Loyola and Xavier universities, and the city's Catholic school system.
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So when Archbishop Philip Hannan announced in 1986 that Pope John Paul II would visit New Orleans, the entire city rejoiced.
John Paul II began his historic visit to New Orleans by being greeted at the airport by Hannan, Gov. Edwin Edwards, Mayor Sidney Barthelemy and others. Milton Baptiste and the Olympia Brass Band were also on hand to welcome the pope to the city.
He visited St. Louis Cathedral, rode in the popemobile from the French Quarter to the Superdome, and spoke at separate events there to black Catholics; elementary, secondary and religious educators; and thousands of young people. In the afternoon, he celebrated an outdoor Mass at the Lakefront -- an estimated 130,000 worshippers attended the outdoor service -- and ended the day by greeting Catholic educators at Xavier University.
Tomorrow, 1988: The Republican National Convention comes to town.