PILGRIMAGE TO THE POPE

Cape Girardeau resident Keith Whitworth once said he only wanted to see two famous people during his lifetime: the president of the United States and the pope.

In August 1996, Whitworth saw President Bill Clinton during a Cape Girardeau campaign stop. This week he's going to see Pope John Paul II in St. Louis.

The 78-year-old pontiff will stop in St. Louis Tuesday and Wednesday for a visit with his friend Justin Rigali, archbishop of St. Louis. John Paul will speak Tuesday at a youth rally and celebrate Mass Wednesday with nearly 950,000 people.

A production associate in the public relations department at Southeast Missouri Hospital, Whitworth will videotape the papal visit for a production company hired by the archdiocese.

He doesn't know yet how close his videographer status will take him to the pope. "Mostly it will be the outdoor events," he said.

More details will come after his production meeting today.

Details about the pope's visit are still trickling down to area parishes. More than 1,400 adults and youth from the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese received tickets for the visit. Some hadn't actually seen the tickets but expected them to arrive by mail over the weekend.

Nearly 1 million people from around the country are expected in St. Louis, and many won't have any tickets to events. They just hope for a glimpse of the spiritual leader.

Most people from Southeast Missouri who are heading north for the visit hold tickets that allow them access to Tuesday's youth rally in Kiel Center or to Wednesday's Mass at the TWA Dome.

Locally, preparations for this pilgrimage are nearly complete. Buses have been chartered, hotel rooms reserved and departure times set.

But a few people, particularly teen-agers, plan just to "hang out" along parade routes or in the Papal Plaza, a tented area combining six city parks.

Youth from Immaculate Conception in Jackson and St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau plan to attend concerts and activities in the plaza. Popular Christian music groups like Rebecca St. James, Audio Adrenaline and D.C. Talk will perform.

But getting to see the pope isn't just about concerts and crowds. It isn't even solely about seeing the famous leader of the Catholic Church.

It's about an expression of faith.

Whitworth, who attended Catholic schools in Washington, Mo., said his interest in seeing the pope extends beyond his church affiliation.

The pontiff is also considered a head of state because he is the political leader of the Vatican City in Rome.

"He's a worldwide figure that unites people," said Whitworth.

The pope has the ability to bring people of all faiths together wherever he goes, Whitworth said.

Donna Kasten, youth leader for Immaculate Conception Church, said seeing the pope is more than merely meeting a church leader.

"I think he's a role model for a world of all faiths," she said. "I'm impressed with his love for Catholics and all people. He is a charismatic leader."

The interest in the papal visit was greater than first expected by the Archdiocese of St. Louis, said Marilyn Vydra, communications director for the Springfield diocese.

Originally, local churches were only going to receive 900 tickets for the Mass and youth events at Kiel Center. But an additional 200 tickets were released last week.

St. Vincent de Paul Church received an additional 90 tickets for its members. Until last week, the church was slated to receive only 62.

"We only found out Wednesday," said Greg Smith, parish administrator. As of Thursday afternoon, some people still didn't know they had tickets. Smith spent the day calling 20 alternates and 70 others whose names had been chosen as ticket holders.

The Rev. Lewis Hejna of Guardian Angel Church in Oran also was expecting more tickets to arrive by mail Thursday. Twelve members of his parish will attend the Mass.