But they defended the expense, saying it would bring long-term dividends by inspiring the museum's visitors to increase their faith and good works. I'm confident that we will make a dent in the world by increasing the faith life of the people who come here. The building's exterior was designed by the Omaha-based firm of Leo A. Daly and the interior and interactive computer exhibits by the New York firm of Edwin Schlossberg. Tours of the museum begin at a huge, panoramic photo mural of individual Catholics from around the world to stress the church's global, multicultural reach. On the lower level, a 200-seat theater shows a documentary film about the pope's life, and four exhibit galleries are devoted to exploring the spiritual component in the themes of community, faith, wonder and imagination.
Visitors use a bar-coded swipe card at each interactive exhibit.
Afterward, by swiping the card in the cafeteria at tables outfitted with monitors, they can review what they did and get a personalized printout of their tour. The center's top floor will be the home of scholars, filling 12 rotating positions, who will study the application of papal teachings and their impact on world culture. A Dominican priest and theologian, the Rev. Joseph Augustine Di Noia, will select the scholars, most of whom will be Catholics who closely follow church teachings. Maida said the center is in discussions with a potential donor who is Jewish and has expressed interest in endowing a chair for the study of Jewish-Catholic dialogue. In all likelihood, the cardinal said, some of the scholars chosen to occupy that chair would be Jewish.