The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, have backed
away from a plan to buy the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in
Washington, DC, explaining that their order was unable to find financing
to complete the purchase.
The enormous Cultural Center, located near the headquarters of the US
bishops' conference, has been a financial drain since it opened in 2001.
Never able to attract enough visitors to become self-sustaining, the
Center has run large deficits, and is now only open to visitors by
appointment.
Construction of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center cost about $75
million, and the Detroit archdiocese lent another $17 million to keep
the project afloat.
The building is now valued at $37.7 million.