Arrival , which waited for him in New York for his return voyage. It was customary for Pacelli to take an annual vacation, and he changed his plans from
Switzerland at the last moment. Pacelli left
Naples on October 1 aboard the Italian liner
Conte di Savoia, joined by
Fulvio Suvich, the
Italian ambassador to the US;
Prince Marcello Gentili del Drago, the secretary of the embassy;
New York , a prominent radio critic of Roosevelt's, was silenced by Pacelli's visit. Pacelli arrived in New York on October 8 and first met with Cardinal
Patrick Joseph Hayes and Apostolic Delegate
Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, along with many other Catholic bishops, clergy members, and prominent laymen. In New York, Pacelli was the guest at
Inisfada, the
Manhasset,
Long Island home of
Genevieve Garvan Brady, the widow of
Nicholas Frederic Brady, one of New York's wealthiest public utility directors and financiers; a large papal donor in her own right, she was created a
Dame of Malta and a
papal Duchess. While in New York, Pacelli met with
Nicholas Murray Butler, the president of
Columbia University,
Boston Pacelli was accompanied by Bishop
Francis Spellman (future Cardinal) to Boston on October 12. Spellman was a trusted friend and reliable fundraiser for Pacelli; the Bishop had boarded the ocean liner even before Pacelli disembarked to offer him a set of secular-style clothing which was refused. Coughlin was in Boston at the same time as Pacelli, but the two did not meet.
Connecticut The future Pope visited the
Knights of Columbus at their headquarters in
New Haven.
Philadelphia In Philadelphia, Pacelli met with Cardinal
Dennis Joseph Dougherty. Pacelli spent the night of October 21 in the capital, dining with the
Apostolic Delegate, and visiting the
Catholic University of America, the
Library of Congress,
National Catholic Welfare Congress,
Mount Vernon, and
Georgetown University the next day. His speech before the
National Press Club was broadcast.
Air tour Pacelli then embarked on a five-day coast-to-coast air tour covering seven cities, departing from
Roosevelt Field on Long Island on a plane chartered from
United Airlines. Accompanying Pacelli on the plane were Bishop Spellman, Basil Harris, the VP of
United States Lines, Galeazzo, Cavenaugh, Kelly, and one of Mrs. Brady's advisers. In Chicago, Pacelli met Cardinal
George Mundelein. With the
presidential election impending, the Vatican made clear that it disapproved of the anti-Roosevelt rhetoric of Coughlin, a Catholic priest, making clear that Pacelli was gathering information on him. Arriving finally in New York, Pacelli said Mass at the
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola and received another honorary doctorate from
Fordham University.
Meeting with Roosevelt , where the meeting took place. On November 5, Pacelli finally met with Roosevelt at the President's home in
Hyde Park, New York, for two hours over lunch. Pacelli congratulated Roosevelt on his election victory the previous day. Pacelli arrived back in Rome on November 14, where he was immediately received by Pius XI to detail his visit. ==Significance==