On October 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI made the first papal visit to the United States. He traveled to New York City, addressed the United Nations, and celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium. The visit took place during the Second Vatican Council, when the Catholic Church was rethinking its relationship with the modern world. Millions of U.S. Catholics were encouraged to see the pope appear on American soil. His UN speech called for peace and cooperation among nations during the Cold War. The visit set a precedent for later papal trips to the United States and helped deepen ties between the Vatican and U.S. society.
