Even in his final hours, the pope had something to teach

Southeast Missouri's Catholics joined with 1.2 billion other church members worldwide in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II Saturday.

During Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, parishioners prayed for God's mercy on the pontiff's soul. A special prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the church.

Parishioner Joy Chapman said the world lost a wonderful man when Karol Joseph Wojtyla died. When elected pope in 1978, Wojtyla, a Polish native, chose the name John Paul.

"I've been so impressed with what I've heard about him," Chapman said. "He touched me very much."

Chapman said it was John Paul's charisma and caring personality that she will miss most. "This man, with whatever group he was with, made an impression."

Susan Stoverink agreed. "He always made himself visible to the people," she said.

And even in his last hours, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church had lessons to teach. In his suffering and ill health, he was trying to teach people "something of value," said the Rev. Patrick Nwokoye of St. Mary's Cathedral.

The pontiff was "showing us what will be coming -- what the end will be for everybody and what he's teaching us is that there is beauty in that aging."

The pope's suffering helped people understand the dignity in human life, Nwokoye said. "He showed there is importance in human suffering."

John Paul spoke often about the dignity of human life and the need for greater respect for life.

Chapman hopes the next pope will continue in John Paul's crusade to respect life.

Bishop John J. Leibrecht of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese said "his staunch advocacy for the dignity of every human person, especially the poor and oppressed, highlights his legacy of love, compassion and ministry.

"We Catholics celebrate the life Pope John Paul II shared with all of us. Like many others, Christians and all peoples of good will, we will miss his voice."

John Paul had served as pontiff since 1978 -- his 26-year tenure made him one of the three longest-serving popes in history.

For many Catholics, John Paul was the face of the papacy.

When Mary Jo Westrich prayed for the pope Friday afternoon, she realized how odd it would be when John Paul was no longer the leader of her faith. "I hate to lose him and start over," she said. "We will just miss him."

Nwokoye said the pope showed people that life isn't always easy but that faith can carry you through. "The fact is that this guy had gone through a lot in his life, yet he had an incredible passion for Christ. And it wasn't just something that he preached, but right from the beginning after he was elected, he told people to open their doors for Christ to come in."

It was a love of God and a spiritual charisma that brought so many people to audiences with the pope in St. Peter's Square in Rome. Thousands gathered in the square to await word of his death Saturday.

"There's something about him -- that is very human and yet very spiritual and divine. God has truly worked through this man to bring about something in the world," Nwokoye said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

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