New Haven exhibit showcases life of Pope Benedict, his ties to U.S.

NEW HAVEN — A citybased Catholic nonprofit group opened a special exhibit Wednesday to pay tribute to late Pope Emeritus Benedict, who died last weekend, spotlighting his ties to the U.S. and Connecticut.

“Being a Catholic Institution, we’re all mourning the loss of Pope Benedict, and we feel it was very important to actually have a place for people to come,” said Bethany Sheffer, curator at Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center. “Most people are not going to be able to go to the Vatican.”

The exhibit at the building formerly known as Knights of Columbus Museum features artifacts, including a cassock and zucchetto the pope wore and other items such as the pope’s letter to the group’s president, his invitations to the United Nations and a White House program he attended that was signed by former President George W. Bush and other prominent political figures.

Sheffer said the Knights of Columbus has had “a strong relationship” with the church and many of the popes. Peter Sonski, the center’s education and outreach manager, said it’s common for the group to be involved in papal initiatives when he visited the U.S.

But one connection the center had with Pope Benedict was that Father Michael McGivney, founder of the New Haven-based Catholic group, was declared “venerable” by the late pope, according to Sheffer.

“It basically states that this individual lived a holy life,” Sheffer explained, noting it was “a degree of heroic virtue.”

Sheffer said she hoped visitors will appreciate learning about Pope Benedict and the charitable works that the Knights of Columbus has done in connection to the Vatican.

Sonski described Pope Benedict as a “well-versed, knowledgeable” person as a theological advisor during the Second Vatican Council.

“For having the tribute here, this is the public facility of the Knights of Columbus, so to invite the public here as an opportunity to offer their thoughts, their memories about the pope is one that we’re happy to make available,” he said.

The special exhibit is open through January and free to the public Wednesdays through Sundays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.