On Visit, Pope Will Use Altar Designed by Architecture Students

Ryan Mullen, left, and John-Paul Mikolajczyk show off their winning design for a papal altar. (Catholic U. of America photo)

Two architecture students have won a design competition at the Catholic University of America for an altar that Pope Benedict XVI will use during an April 17 Mass in Washington’s yet-to-be-completed new baseball stadium.

The two students—John-Paul Mikolajczyk and Ryan Mullen—submitted one of 21 entries in the contest, which sought designs for the altar, chair, pulpit, and lectern that the pope will use, according to a university news release. The students’ altar will stand on a base of parabolic arches.

The competition jury was chosen by the Archdiocese of Washington. The two students will share a $1,500 prize.