"The papal visit is a complex undertaking for the Archdiocese, the City of St. Louis and Saint Louis University," said University President Lawrence Biondi, SJ. "Although the Holy Father will not directly visit the campus, the University will play a critical role as the primary staging area for the Mass to be conducted at the Trans World Dome on Wednesday, Jan. 27."

More than 3,000 participants in the Mass -- priests, women religious, deacons, ushers and volunteers -- will gather at the University. A continuous shuttle of buses will transport participants to the dome for the Mass and afterward will bring them back to campus.

The magnitude of this undertaking requires major adjustments in University operations. Mass participants will require all of the University garage parking and much of its surface parking. The marshaling of the participants will begin at 2 a.m. on the 27th and will take up the Simon Recreation Center, the West Pine Gym, and all of Busch Memorial Center.

"To support the Archdiocese in this matter, the University will cancel all daytime classes on the Frost campus, and close that campus during the day on Jan. 27," Biondi said.

As a part of the closing, the following actions will be taken, and should be noted by students, faculty and staff for planning purposes:

• All classroom and office buildings will be closed and locked, and no one will be admitted without a special pass.
• Libraries will be closed and locked, and no one will be admitted without a special pass.
• Entry and exit from all residence halls will be restricted to residents and residence life staff only. Appropriate University identification will be required. Guest privileges are suspended from Jan. 25 to 28.
• Both garages and most surface lots on the Frost campus have been allocated to participants. All parking tags and cards are suspended from 10 p.m. Jan. 26 through 5 p.m. Jan. 27. There will be no faculty or staff parking allowed, and cars remaining in the designated lots after 10 p.m. on Jan. 26 will be towed.
• Students will be required to remove their cars from the garages and the lots designated for use by the Archdiocese. Alternative parking will be identified by parking services, and specific information will be made available in early January.

"These steps are necessary for security and crowd control reasons," Biondi said. "Faculty and staff are urged to stay home on the 27th because parking will be unavailable and offices inaccessible. Students who live in the area may want to consider a day at home as well."

More specific information concerning the effects of the visit on operations, and directions concerning parking, meal service and other issues, will be made available as the date of the visit draws closer.

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