Malvern Retreat House is now home to a historic 40-foot papal cross once used for a 1979 Philadelphia papal visit, writes Jay Sorgi for Catholic Philly.
The cross was a noticeable feature of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Philadelphia. The cross stood at the ceremony where the Pope performed an outdoor Mass ceremony for thousands of Philadelphians.
In the decades since, the cross has stood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. When the seminary moved to its new campus in Ambler, church leadership decided to move the cross to the Malvern Retreat House.
The physical transportation and moving of the cross took roughly thirteen months. Recently, after the successful transfer, a dedication ceremony was held at the retreat house on June 22.
Dozens of community members gathered to share remarks and celebrate the significant historical artifact moving closer to home.
KYW-TV news anchor and former retreat house board member Pat Ciarrocchi reflected on having the cross nearby. Ciarrocchi would often have a quiet moment of reflection when driving by.
About the cultural significance of the historic cross, Ciarrocchi said, “Millions would be stopped there along their journeys to home, to work, to the hospital…Even in a sideways glance, you couldn’t miss the cross’ towering presence.”
Read more about Malvern Retreat House’s recent acquisition of the historic Pope John Paul II papal cross in Catholic Philly.
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