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This Is What Happened the First Time a Pope Visited the White House

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Pope Francis will be only the third Pope to visit the White House when he steps onto the South Lawn on Wednesday, 36 years after Pope John Paul II became the first Pontifex to visit a President at home.

That 1979 visit, during President Jimmy Carter’s term, was a long time coming: Woodrow Wilson and Pope Benedict XV were the first incumbent President and Pope to meet, in 1919, and Pope Paul VI had met with Lyndon Johnson on U.S. shores in 1965, but a weak relationship between the American government and the Vatican had not facilitated a formal meeting at the White House.

When John Paul II changed that pattern—as part of a week-long tour of the U.S., during which he hit six cities and spoke 69 times—TIME’s cover line about the trip was “John Paul, Superstar,” which gives a sense of how Americans received the Pope. (He packed Madison Square Garden; some things haven’t changed.) President Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale and Joan Mondale welcomed John Paul under the North Portico, where Carter addressed him in his native Polish. It was, the magazine noted, “a happening that would have been inconceivable in U.S. politics just two decades ago,” but was by that point a clear crowd-pleaser:

Carefully noting the American tradition of separation of church and state, Carter also lauded John Paul: “You have moved among us as a champion of dignity and decency for every human being, and as a pilgrim for peace among nations. You have offered us your love, and we as individuals are heartened by it. You can be sure, Pope John Paul, that the people of America return your love.” At that, John Paul clasped his hands and quickly touched his heart.

In his reply, the Pope congratulated the President on his Polish. He said that he wished to be “the messenger of peace and brotherhood, and a witness to the true greatness of every person.” John Paul said he hoped the meeting would serve the cause of world peace, international understanding and the promotion of full respect for human rights everywhere.” He ended with his now-familiar “God bless America!” which brought the applauding guests to their feet.

The President and the Pope spoke privately for over an hour. According to Carter’s personal notes in the National Archives, they each drew on their strong Christian beliefs as they discussed human rights situations across the world.

After their meeting, the pair emerged and addressed the crowd of 6,000 gathered on the South Lawn. There, the President addressed the Pope warmly and said, “As human beings each acting for justice in the present—and striving together for a common future of peace and love—let us not wait so long for ourselves and for you to meet again. Welcome to our country, our new friend.”

Read the full story from 1979, here in the TIME Vault: The Pope in America

See Photos of Every Papal Visit to the U.S. in History

Pope Paul VI giving mass and sermon of peace at Yankee Stadium during historic visit. New York, 1965.
Pope Paul VI giving mass and sermon of peace at Yankee Stadium during historic visit. New York, 1965.Bill Eppridge—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
President Lyndon Johnson and Pope Paul VI, the first Roman Catholic Pontiff to journey to the Western hemisphere, bid farewell to each other following their hour-long conference at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, New York, October 4, 1965. The Pope was in New York to address the United Nations.
President Lyndon Johnson and Pope Paul VI, the first Roman Catholic Pontiff to journey to the Western hemisphere, bid farewell to each other following their hour-long conference at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, N.Y., Oct. 4, 1965.PhotoQuest—Getty Images
President Carter with Pope John Paul ll during visit to Washington DC, October 7, 1979.
President Carter with Pope John Paul ll during a visit to Washington DC, on Oct. 7, 1979. Bill Fitzpatrick/White House—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Cardinal Humberto S. Mederios and first lady Rosalyn Carter greeted Pope John Paul II on his arrival at Logan Airport. Boston, October 1, 1979.
Cardinal Humberto S. Mederios and first lady Rosalyn Carter greeted Pope John Paul II on his arrival at Logan Airport. Boston, Oct. 1, 1979.David L. Ryan—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II (born poses with American Bishop (and later Archibishop) John R. Quinn (center) during a visit to Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, September 18, 1987. With them in the background are Italian Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli (left), Italian Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States (and later Cardinal) Pio Laghi (second right), and Spanish Archbishop Substitute for General Affairs (and later Cardinal) Eduardo Martinez Somalo (right).
Pope John Paul II poses with American Bishop (and later Archibishop) John R. Quinn (center) during a visit to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, Sept. 18, 1987. With them in the background are Italian Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli (left), Italian Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States (and later Cardinal) Pio Laghi (second right), and Spanish Archbishop Substitute for General Affairs (and later Cardinal) Eduardo Martinez Somalo (right). Dirck Halstead—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II in front of a huge peace dove in a New Orleans' stadium prior to celebrate an open-air mass. September 12, 1987.
Pope John Paul II in front of a huge peace dove in a New Orleans' stadium prior to celebrating an open-air mass. Sept. 12, 1987.Jean Claude Delmas—AFP/Getty Images
US President Bill Clinton points out people in the crowd to Pope John Paul II on August, 12, 1993 in Denver, Colorado.
President Bill Clinton points out people in the crowd to Pope John Paul II on Aug. 12, 1993 in Denver.Luke Frazza—AFP/Getty Images
Frank Rocha of Amarillo, Texas, weeps as he is blessed by Pope John Paul II at Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on August 14, 1993. Rocha was among 300 delegates from the World Youth Day who attended mass with the Pope.
Frank Rocha of Amarillo, Tex., weeps as he is blessed by Pope John Paul II at Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Aug. 14, 1993.Pool—AFP/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II waves to the faithful upon his arrival to Camden Yards, Baltimore, for a mass on October 8, 1995.
Pope John Paul II waves to the crowd upon his arrival at Camden Yards in Baltimore, for a mass on Oct. 8, 1995. Michel Gange—AFP/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II with members of the United Nations International School choir during his visit to the UN in New York, October 5, 1995.
Pope John Paul II with members of the United Nations International School choir during his visit to the UN in New York, Oct. 5, 1995. Jon Levy—AFP/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II waves to the crowd as he arrives to say Mass in his bullet-proof "Popemobile" in St. Louis, January 27, 1999.
Pope John Paul II waves to the crowd as he arrives to say Mass in his bullet-proof "Popemobile" in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 27, 1999. Paul J. Richards—AFP/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II waves as US President Bill Clinton applauds during an arrival ceremony on January 26, 1999 at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.
Pope John Paul II waves as President Bill Clinton applauds during an arrival ceremony on Jan. 26, 1999 at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Mo.Paul J. Richards—AFP/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI reacts to the cheering crowd as he stands with U.S. President George W. Bush upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, April 15, 2008 in Camp Springs, Maryland.
Pope Benedict XVI reacts to the cheering crowd as he stands with George W. Bush upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, April 15, 2008 in Camp Springs, Md. Mark Wilson—Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate Mass April 17, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate Mass, April 17, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images

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Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com