Cover: The Vatican Pavilion will rise on
an oval-shaped plot of land in Flushing Meadow, to be crowned
by a lantern and a cross at a total height of 100 feet. it will
feature, in addition to the famed "Pieta" by Michelangelo,
a Gallery of Michelangelo, containing a treatment of the works
of the artist; a statue of the Good Shepherd, an early Christian
sculpture from the catacombs; an exhibition of on-third life size
color transparencies of the Sistine Chapel, and a collection of
Vatican coins. Architectural firms collaborating on the Vatican
Pavilion design are York & Sawyer; Hurley & Hughes; Luders
and Associates. Contractor is Stewart M. Muller of White Plains.
THE FOLLOWING REMARKS ARE TAKEN FROM A TRANSCRIPT OF
THE VATICAN RADIO BROADCAST DURING CEREMONIES IN ROME AND AT FLUSHING
MEADOW PARK COMMEMORATING THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE VATICAN
PAVILION, NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1962.
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ANNOUNCER: We are assembled for the occasion
of the official groundbreaking ceremonies for the Vatican Pavilion
at the New York World's fair in 1964 and 1965. His Holiness Pope
John XXIII is about to enter his private study where he will
deliver a commemorative address in Latin, after which he will
push a button to signal across the Atlantic for the start of
pile-driving operations at the construction site of the Vatican
Pavilion.
After the Holy Father's Address, you will
hear an English translation by the Right Rev. Monsignor Cardinale.
The Holy Father is about to enter - and everybody
is ready - the television cameras are already rolling. His Holiness
has now entered his private study and with him are His Eminence
Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani, Vatican Secretary of State,
and His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman, who are taking their
places on either side of the Holy Father. And now you will hear
His Holiness, Pope John XXIII. The Holy Father.
- [Pope John XXIII's Latin address, which is
then followed by transatlantic electronic
- signal to start construction.]
ANNOUNCER: And now that you have heard the
Holy Father's message, you will hear a full English translation
by the Right Reverend Monsinor Cardinale.
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Pope John XXIII
presses switch in Vatican that sends signal starting pile-driving
operations for Vatican Pavilion at New York World's Fair. At left
is Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani, Vatican Secretary of State,
and at right is Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York. In the
background are Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart of Brooklyn and Thomas
J. Deegan, Jr., chairman of Fair's executive committee. The picture
above was taken from the European television broadcast.
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MSGR. CARDINALE: Spiritually present at the
official groundbreaking for the Vatican Pavilion of the New York
World's Fair, we are happy, on this occasion, to extend our congratulations
and our best wishes for its success. The World's Fair, while
it will bear testimony to what the genius and labors of men have
been able to accomplish for the progress of civilization, will
also contribute without doubt to the solidarity of people and
to their fruitful collaboration for the welfare of humanity.
To this end, from our heart, we cherish the
hope that this remarkable progress of science will serve for
the spiritual progress of mankind, without which there can be
neither true prosperity nor secure peace.
This is the reason for the participation of
the Holy See in this World's Fair and so that our wishes may
become a consoling reality, we implore from Almighty God an abundance
of divine favors.
ANNOUNCER: That was the Right Reverend Monsignor
Cardinale who has given you the full English translation of the
Holy Father's speech.
And now the Fair's official Gold medallion
is being presented to His Holiness by Mr. Thomas J. Deegan, Jr.,
chairman of the New York World's Fair executive committee.
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On the occasion
of the start of construction on the Vatican Pavilion, Thomas J.
Deegan, Jr. presented the Holy Father with World's Fair medallion.
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ANNOUNCER: The Holy Father is escorted to
his desk now by Cardinal Cicognani and Cardinal Spellman, both
of whom will return to deliver their own personal messages commemorating
the start of construction on the Vatican Pavilion.
His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop
of New York is now ready to speak to you. His Eminence Cardinal
Spellman.
CARDINAL SPELLMAN: Holy Father, in behalf
of the Bishop of Brooklyn and myself, I express deep gratitude
to Your Holiness for all that you have done to help us in the
World's Fair from the very beginning. Your encouraging words
and your inspiration in the beginning have been a great help
to the Bishops of the country in providing for this magnificent
building. We are grateful to you this morning for pressing the
button to start the activities in the building of this Vatican
Pavilion.
Your Holiness has been most gracious in allowing
the "Pieta" to come to New York and - notwithstanding
the fears of some directors of museums who themselves have had
thousands of works of art brought over on the ocean - Your Holiness
has desired that people who are unable to make the journey to
Rome can see this masterpiece of Michelangelo..
The purpose of the Fair is to achieve "Peace
through Understanding." And that corresponds very closely,
I believe, to our own interpretation of our blessed and beloved
country of peace through moral and mortal restraint. Lately we
have had an example of the peace through the measures adopted
by our country. The Church has the program and the policy of
peace through prayer and likewise we are grateful because God
has answered our prayers since last Sunday when in our Churches
- the Catholic Church of the United States - we had prayers for
peace. And almost miraculously peace has dawned. So once more,
Beloved Holy Father, we thank you for the interest that you have
shown in the World's Fair. Thank you very much.
ANNOUNCER: That was His Eminence, Francis
Cardinal Spellman. And now His Eminence Amleto Giovanni Cardinal
Cicognani, The Holy Father's Secretary of State.
CARDINAL CICOGNANI: I am so pleased with this
contribution of the Vatican Pavilion to the New York World's
Fair and I am sure that the American people will visit this pavilion
with sincere affection. This is an occasion to rejoice with the
good people of New York and Brooklyn and also to recall fond
memories of friends throughout the length and breadth of the
United States.
His Holiness Pope John XXIII, with his great
heart, is preparing with delight to allow this treasure of art
to be transported to the Worlds' Fair, fully confident of the
inspiration which it will bring to the many millions who will
visit this magnificent venture. My prayers and good wishes for
a great success.
ANNOUNCER: You are listening to the Vatican
radio in this special broadcast on the occasion of the official
groundbreaking for the Vatican Pavilion in the New York World's
Fair. This broadcast has come from the private study of His Holiness
Pope John XXIII. That is the end of this broadcast - Praise to
Jesus Christ - Laudator Jesus Christus.
- [Sound of bells is heard from St. Peter's
Basilica mingling with the pile driver at Flushing
- Meadow.]
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Gathered at Flushing
Meadow for the 3 a.m. World's Fair Vatican Pavilion groundbreaknig
ceremonies are: Very Rev. Msgr. Francis M. Costello, Very Rev.
Msgr. Timothy J. Flynn, Fair President Robert Moses, Most Rev.
John J. Maguire, Hon. James J. Delaney, Rt. Rev. Msgr. James W.
Asip, and Rev. Raymond Leonard.
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Source: Ground
Breaking Commemoration Brochure - NY World's Fair Corp.
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MSG. TIMOTHY J. FLYNN: Your Holiness, Your
Eminences Cardinal Cicognani and Cardinal Spellman, Your Excellency
Bishop McEntegart - this is Monsignor Flynn at the site of the
Vatican Pavilion at the Fairgrounds in New York. You have just
heard the start of construction. It is 3 a.m. and it has been
raining here, but we are very cheerful.
In the name of all those assembled here, Bishop
Maguire, Msgr. Asip and Father Leonard of Brooklyn, Msg. Constello,
the officials of the World's Fair, the construction men, the
press, television personnel and all here gathered, we wish to
express our thanks - thanks particularly to His Holiness - for
we are grateful for the events of this night. What His Holiness
has done in starting the construction of the Vatican Pavilion
is not only a tribute to modern technological progress but it
is also an act of faith in the Fair and in the future.
May I now present the Honorable Robert Moses,
president of the New York World's Fair.
ROBERT MOSES: The theme of the New York World's
Fair is peace through a mutual understanding on a shrinking globe
in an expanding universe. We welcome the support of the Vatican
at this crucial time, and its willingness to send us its greatest
and most moving sculptural symbol. We regard the announcement
of the beginning of construction of the Vatican Pavilion as an
event of immense world significance. It is an inspiration to
all of us.
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Beautiful Artist's Rendering of the Vatican
Pavilion
Source: NY World's
Fair Progress Report No. 7, January 24, 1963
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View of facade and entrance to
the Vatican Pavilion, New York World's Fair - 1964-1965. Kiff,
Colean, Voss & Souder, Raymond P. Hughes, Luders & Associates,
Associated Architects
Source: Vatican Pavilion
Post Card by Dexter Press
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Spring, 1963, steel structure
of the Pavilion nears completion
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On an oval-shaped plot of land of some 50,000 square
feet, during the eighteen month period, November 1962- April
1964, an elliptical-shaped building, 208 feet at its longest
dimension and 135 feet at its greatest width, took shape.
Crowned by a 42-foot, three-dimensional
cross of golden-anodized aluminum which towered above the ground
to a total height of 100 feet, the building featured a glass
enclosed mezzanine a graceful lantern-like circular chapel seating
350.
By mid-April 1964, the web
of steel, concrete, and glass, which was to capture the imagination
of so many visitors to the Fair, had been spun, and the inspiring
Pavilion exhibit installed.
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The planning and construction of the pavilion exhibit was
carried on simultaneously in Rome and in New York City.
While the construction of the building which was to house
the Pavilion exhibit proceeded, the principal accouterments of
the area directly beneath the mezzanine Chapel of the Good Shepherd,
having been agreed upon in design, were produced in a workshop
in a suburb of Rome. At the same time, in Carmel, New York, some
fifty miles north of New York City, following seemingly endless
reviews and evaluations of small-scale renderings of tentative
exhibit forms, life-size "mock-ups" of the interior
of the Pavilion were developed to establish the final utilization
of each area.
Independently of the design and planning indicated above,
the Pavilion setting for the Pieta was devised in a prominent
New York City studio with the help of a full-sized replica loaned
by New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Source: This section,
Book Vatican Pavilion New York World's Fair 1964-1965 A Chronicle
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Aerial view of the section of
the International Area in which the Vatican Pavilion, center,
was located.
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