Pope Paul VI greets President John F. Kennedy at the Vatican in July 1963. Kennedy's meeting with the pope was historic: The first Roman Catholic president of the United States was seeing the pontiff shortly after his coronation. Kennedy, who struggled against anti-Catholic bias during his 1960 presidential campaign, only shook hands with the pope rather than kissing his ring, the usual practice for Catholics.
JFK: America's first Catholic president —
Pope Paul VI greets President John F. Kennedy at the Vatican in July 1963. Kennedy's meeting with the pope was historic: The first Roman Catholic president of the United States was seeing the pontiff shortly after his coronation. Kennedy, who struggled against anti-Catholic bias during his 1960 presidential campaign, only shook hands with the pope rather than kissing his ring, the usual practice for Catholics.
AP Photo
Kennedy chats with the Rev. Charles Dolman after attending Mass at the Lady of the Forest Roman Catholic Church in Sussex, England. The church was near Birch Grove, home of then-British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan with whom Kennedy had been having informal talks.
JFK: America's first Catholic president —
Kennedy chats with the Rev. Charles Dolman after attending Mass at the Lady of the Forest Roman Catholic Church in Sussex, England. The church was near Birch Grove, home of then-British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan with whom Kennedy had been having informal talks.
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Kennedy leaves St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church in Washington after attending Mass in October 1962 as the Cuban missile crisis was coming to an end.
JFK: America's first Catholic president —
Kennedy leaves St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church in Washington after attending Mass in October 1962 as the Cuban missile crisis was coming to an end.
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Kennedy addresses a prayer breakfast in 1961.
JFK: America's first Catholic president —
Kennedy addresses a prayer breakfast in 1961.
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Kennedy, then a Democratic candidate for president, speaks to Protestant ministers in Houston during the 1960 campaign. One journalist compared Kennedy's meeting to Daniel entering the Lion's Den.
JFK: America's first Catholic president —
Kennedy, then a Democratic candidate for president, speaks to Protestant ministers in Houston during the 1960 campaign. One journalist compared Kennedy's meeting to Daniel entering the Lion's Den.
Paul Schutzer//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images