The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province

President Barack Obama presents Pope Benedict XVI with a stole once worn by St. John Neumann

Louis R. DiCocco, president of the St. Jude Shops and St. Jude Liturgical Arts Studio, an architecture and design firm that specializes in building and restoring churches, was instrumental in procuring the stole for the president. A Philadelphia native whose family has long been devoted to St. John Neumann, DiCocco was approached by the Obama administration based on his participation in the pope's recent U.S. visit. His company designed and built one of the chairs used by Pope Benedict during his meeting with the U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in April 2008.

"They wanted to find an antique chalice, but I suggested it was important to get something more personable," DiCocco said. "I told them about this stole that was something that belonged to an immigrant who was so instrumental in serving immigrants and building Catholic schools. What better than the stole that represents the priest?" More...