Pope Makes Unscheduled Visit to Saint Joseph's

Pope Francis on Sunday made an unscheduled, brief visit to Saint Joseph's University, thrilling those on the Philadelphia campus. Saint Joseph's is a Jesuit institution, and the pope is a Jesuit, making the visit particularly significant for the university. While on campus, Pope Francis visited a newly dedicated statue, “Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time," which marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document that -- in a reversal of centuries of practice -- called upon Roman Catholics to show respect for Jews, and urged Catholic leaders and theologians to work together with Jewish leaders. The photo at right shows President Mark Reed welcoming Pope Francis to campus.