The setting was Philadelphia in August 1976 — the year of the American bicentennial. The audience included president Gerald Ford, Karol Wojtyla (who would take on the papacy with the name John Paul II in 1978), Mother Teresa, and Monaco’s Princess Grace — after all, Philadelphia was Grace Kelly’s hometown.

Dozens of cardinals and bishops were also present. Pope Paul VI was too ill to attend. It was the 41st Eucharistic congress, being held to coincide with the bicentennial celebrations.

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