ST. LOUIS IS THE POPE'S CITY FOR TWO DAYS

St. Louis, our neighbor to the north, is ready for one of the biggest events in its history. The city has seen presidents come and go, along with royalty, the pilot of the first transatlantic solo flight and the home-run king of the world. But nothing has quite taken over this metropolis at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers quite like the visit today and Wednesday of Pope John Paul II.

History is playing a large role in the pope's visit. This area's history of settlement by Europeans and westward expansion is closely linked to the missionary efforts of the Roman Catholic Church.

Throughout its modern history, St. Louis has drawn deeply from the well of Catholic influence, providing the area with a rich heritage of hospitals, universities and social agencies, not to mention the rhythm of the church's liturgical calendar and its strong hold on the lives of so many St. Louisans.

Pope John Paul II, of course, has been to the United States before. This most traveled of all popes has visited every corner of the globe served by a global church. While his visits have been to minister to the faithful, the pope also has taken every opportunity to speak clearly and unflinchingly about social and political issues wherever his travels have led him.

Not too long ago, Pope John Paul went to Cuba where he was direct and plainspoken with Fidel Castro, that country's dictator. Let the people of Cuba engage in religious activities without fear of government reprisal, the pope told the dictator under a blazing sun. Castro has, indeed, relaxed the ban on worship and religious celebrations.

One theme of the pope's current trip is to push for an end to the death penalty. The United States uses the death penalty more than any other nation, excepting those whose pogroms continue to slaughter thousands of innocent people in civil and religious strife.

President Clinton, who is coming to St. Louis to greet the pope today, will no doubt be told bluntly that the death penalty is an evil practice, if the pope follows his practice of so many other visits with heads of state. The president, as governor of Arkansas, took a hard line on the death penalty. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the request of someone so influential as Pope John Paul.

For hundreds of thousands of people, today and Wednesday will be a blur of activities that will all but consume the city of St. Louis. Schools are closed. Businesses are shut down. Transportation revolves around the pope's schedule. It will be an event to remember for years to come.

To the pope, we add our welcome to the Show Me State. We think the pontiff will find Missouri's hospitality to his liking.