“How does the Pope get around New York City?”/“Mass transit.”
Pope Paul VI was the first pope to visit the United States when he came to New York City in 1965. Pope John Paul II came to New York City in 1979 and 1995. Pope Benedict XVI came to New York City in 2008 and Pope Francis came to New York City in 2015.
A popular joke is:
Q: How does the Pope get around New York City?
A: Mass transit.
A “mass transit joke” (not involving New York City) was cited in a 1977 book. “How did everyone get to Yankee Stadium to see the Pope? They used Mass transit” was cited on Twitter on April 20, 2008. “How will Pope Francis get around #NYC?? By Mass Transit!” ws cited on Twitter on September 22, 2015.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Papal Visits To The United States
Pope Francis is the fourth pope to visit the United States. His apostolic journey to the United States is scheduled to take place September 22-27, 2015, and he will visit Washington, New York and Philadelphia. Pope Francis’ visit will be the tenth time a pope has made an apostolic journey to the United States.
Other pastoral visits from previous popes are:
Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008. His apostolic visit, April 15-20, took him to Washington and New York.
Pope John Paul II visited the United States seven times:
1979 (10/1 – 10/7) Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Des Moines, Iowa.
1981 (2/27) Anchorage, Alaska – stopover/several hours
1984 (5/2) Fairbanks, Alaska – stopover/several hours
1987 (9/10 – 9/19) Miami, Columbia, SC, New Orleans, San Antonio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit
1993 (8/12 – 8/15) Denver (World Youth Day)
1995 (10/4 – 10/8) Newark, NJ, New York (including Brooklyn), Baltimore
1999 (1/26 – 1/27) St. Louis
In October 1965, Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States. His trip included a first time papal visit to the United Nations.
Google Books
The Last Best Hope
By Peter Tauber
New York, NY: Ballantine Books
1978, ©1977
Pg. 278:
“Lapsed. But I was trained, you see, as a Mobile Roman Catholic.” Tyler made a joke about Mass Transit, but Zermatt pressed on.
Twitter
Alexis Levenson
@overthinker
How did everyone get to Yankee Stadium to see the Pope? They used Mass transit. Hee.
10:52 PM - 20 Apr 2008
Twitter
HumorSmith
@HumorSmith
Mass transit is how the Pope travels.
6:02 PM - 15 Nov 2010
Twitter
Liia Magi
@illustratingnyc
@Pontifex How will Pope Francis get around #NYC?? By Mass Transit! 🙏🏻😜
1:46 PM - 22 Sep 2015
Twitter
Al Pagano
@AlPagano1970
How does the Pope get around New York? Mass transit. #dumbpopejokes
7:26 AM - 23 Sep 2015
Twitter
Thelemic Waves
@ThelemicWaves
How will the Pope get around New York City? By using MASS transit!
9:56 AM - 24 Sep 2015
reddit
How does the Pope get around New York City? (self.Jokes)
submitted September 24, 2015 by jrgkgb
Mass Transit!