By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/chair-built-pope-francis-unveiled-madison-square-garden Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Chair built for Pope Francis unveiled at Madison Square Garden Nation Sep 2, 2015 1:28 PM EDT Three weeks before Pope Francis’ scheduled trip to New York, the archdiocese of the city revealed the large birch wood armchair that was built for the pope for the Sept. 25 Mass at Madison Square Garden. Cardinal Timothy Dolan presented the light brown chair to reporters Wednesday inside the Garden. The chair has a dark trim with white cushions. The piece of furniture was constructed by several day laborers in a New York garage. “It’s not just a chair. It’s not just screwing, nailing and painting a simple chair. It’s more than a chair. It’s the spiritual connection we have,” day laborer Hector Rojas told WCBS 880 earlier this month. The pope will wear green during the upcoming special service and will speak in English and Spanish to an expected 20,000 people. Other languages, including Gaelic, Polish and German, will also be used during the Mass. By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Three weeks before Pope Francis’ scheduled trip to New York, the archdiocese of the city revealed the large birch wood armchair that was built for the pope for the Sept. 25 Mass at Madison Square Garden. Cardinal Timothy Dolan presented the light brown chair to reporters Wednesday inside the Garden. The chair has a dark trim with white cushions. The piece of furniture was constructed by several day laborers in a New York garage. “It’s not just a chair. It’s not just screwing, nailing and painting a simple chair. It’s more than a chair. It’s the spiritual connection we have,” day laborer Hector Rojas told WCBS 880 earlier this month. The pope will wear green during the upcoming special service and will speak in English and Spanish to an expected 20,000 people. Other languages, including Gaelic, Polish and German, will also be used during the Mass.