New exhibit highlights relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II

A pair of Louis XIV-style armchairs used by President Reagan and Pope John Paul II on display during in the “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Simi Valley, CA. The exhibit will run Aug. 31 – October 27, 2024 at the library. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

By Olga Grigoryants | [email protected] | Los Angeles Daily News

PUBLISHED: August 30, 2024 at 2:22 p.m.

Items on display during in the “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Simi Valley, CA. The exhibit will run Aug. 31 – October 27, 2024 at the library. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Pope Saint John Paul II bronze bust, gifted by the Friends of John Paul II Foundation and sculpted by American sculptor Gordon Kray on display during in the “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Simi Valley, CA. The exhibit will run Aug. 31 – October 27, 2024 at the library. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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What did President Ronald Reagan have in common with Pope John Paul II?

Both men were influential figures in the late 20th century who opposed communism and survived assassination attempts in 1981.

The legacy of the two men is the center of the new exhibit “The Pope and The President: Bringing Hope to the World” hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

The exhibit will open on Saturday, Aug. 31, and highlight the contributions of the two men in restoring diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the Vatican, advancing global peace and opposing communism.

“The diplomacy between President Reagan and Saint John Paul II contributed to the downfall of communism and the freedom that the modern world enjoys today, and it’s important we remember and celebrate their lasting impact,” said Melissa Giller, Chief Marketing Officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute in a statement.

The items, featured in a new exhibit, include eight overview panels, each dedicated to a different chapter of Saint John Paul II’s life from his childhood to his adult years when he joined the priesthood and his meeting with President Reagan, which became the beginning of years-long friendship and partnership.

The foundation will unveil The Pope Saint John Paul II bronze bust, gifted by the Friends of John Paul II Foundation and sculpted by American sculptor Gordon Kray the night before the opening of the exhibition. The bust will remain at the library once the exhibition is over.

The exhibit will also display documents preceding the four meetings between President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, dresses and other outfits worn by Nancy Reagan during her meetings with the Pope. Visitors will see souvenirs from the 1984 meeting in Alaska and other gifts and furniture, including a pair of Louis XIV-style armchairs used by Reagan and the Pope.

Other items included a Bible gifted to Reagan by the Pope and the 1998 Cadillac De Ville Parade Phaeton “Popemobile,” custom-built for the Pope.

“While President Reagan and Pope John Paul II’s legacies are enduring, ‘The Pope and The President’ exhibit highlights the significant ways in which their paths converged to have a profound impact on modern history,” Giller said.