Papal Altar Arrives at the Basilica

The partially finished altar for the papal Mass sits in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where is will be placed after the Mass on Sept. 23.

In just over one month, media will arrive on campus eagerly awaiting the arrival of Pope Francis.

Today, TV crews in satellite trucks arrived at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to film the arrival of the altar at which the Pope will celebrate Mass.

Designed by Catholic University architecture students last spring; it was delivered by Deacon Dave Cahoon, a carpenter and deacon for the Archdiocese of Washington.

Deacon Dave and a crew moved the large piece of furniture up the east steps of the Basilica and inside the building. It is on these steps that the Pope will celebrate Mass on Sept. 23, overlooking the CUA Mall.

In the original design by the architecture students, the altar was to be made out of marble to match the interior of the Basilica. But because the altar will have to be used outdoors for the Pope’s Mass and then moved indoors, where it will remain in use in the Great Upper Church, it was decided that it should be built out of lighter materials and faux painted. Artists will apply the faux painting while the altar is inside the Basilica in order to ensure it matches the marble already in place there.