MPR: Minnesotans share memories of Pope John Paul II

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Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005

Coverage from NPR and MPR

Key dates in the life of Pope John Paul II

Minnesotans share memories of the pope

Share your memories of the pope

What direction should the church take?

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Parisoners at the Cathedral of St. Paul (4/1/05)

Minnesotans share memories of Pope John Paul II
April 4, 2005

We asked visitors to our Web site to tell us about the effect Pope John Paul II has had on their lives. We also asked them about the direction they think the Catholic Church should take in the future. These are some of the responses.

St. Paul, Minn. —

Nancy Traeger, Marshall

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I was in Rome in 1980 and had a brief view of the pope from a distance. At the time I was going through my own crisis of faith, so this experience did not have the impact upon me that his death has had. I admire this pope for his stand on peace and social justice issues. Although I have disagreed with him over the years regarding his conservative views, he has been my/our leader, and has left a marvelous legacy to the world. His death has given us pause to reflect upon the dignity of all human life, and I feel that his witness to the value of suffering and our own ultimate death has been most powerful. I have been crying my tears, but at the same time I pray that the Spirit will guide our church leaders in choosing a person who will be able to take a look at the world as it is and engage in an open and free dialogue regarding this era of post-modernity.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

I listened to "Speaking of Faith" this noon, and want to thank you for the frank discussion on this program! I was in total agreement with Fr. Don Cozzins (sp?) and Sister Margaret Farley! And, I have to keep reminding myself the the Holy Spirit is really in charge!

Joshua Dix, Northfield

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

A year ago I went to visit Washington DC for the first time at age 23. Besides the usual stops of political, historic, and culinary significance, I couldn't wait to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine. It's an immensely huge Catholic church and after attending the Basillica of St. Mary I couldn't wait to see the shrine. After spending half the day there I found the John Paul II Center across the street quite by accident. It's an amazing interactive mueseum of sorts for the late Pope. It was by far the most interesting and amazing museum I've seen as it was so interactive and engaging. It really made you think about what you were experiencing and tried to get you to reflect on it. I ended up going back the next day to finish my exploration of the exhibits instead of going back to the Smithsonian.

In reflection I find the museum to be much like the Pope's legacy: inovative and engaging. As the grandson of a Polish Catholic I know shamefully little of John Paul II, but every bit I've learned, I've loved. Due to what I've learned about him, I was more happy than sad today...if there was ever a shoe in when it comes to people going to heaven, John Paul II is it. Not only was he the pope, he was a great man.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

Vatican II was a leap in the right direction. I hope that the Church will continue to liberalize and focus more on loving and caring for one another as Jesus did for us rather than on issues that cause people to discriminate between one another. I hope that there can be a balance of tradition, faith, true moral values, and liberalism while inviting all to join in the Catholic faith.

Galen Spinler, Clarks Grove

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I had the oppurtunity to attend two of his papal Masses, the first down in Des Moines at Living History Farms, and the second, up in Winnepeg, Canada. Even though I was "500 pews back from the altar" it was a moving experience to be present.

When down in Des Moines, the day began cold and blustery. As soon as the papal helicopter touched down on the grounds, the sky cleared and the afternoon turned out beautiful. Coincidence or what?

Being of Czech ancestry, I feel close to the Slavik people. John Paul was a great man, a great leader, and truly Christ's representative here on Earth.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

She needs to continue on the path of the apostolic works begun by John Paul.

Rhonda Nickel, Detroit Lakes

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

When I think of this Pope,I am mostly affected by the opportunities lost or squandered. His support,early on, for the Solidarity movement gave me hope he would continue on as an activist for other social and political injustices. Unfortunately,after a promising beginning,he became more and more rigid regarding women's role in the church, birth control,stem cell research,and reconsidering priestly celibacy. His initial stand against George Bush's "unjust war" in Iraq disappeared when Bush made a vist during the presidential campaign,where he denounced abortion,gay marriage,and stem cell research. The pope gave the impression that those issues were more important than killing thousands of people. We should also remember that this pope presided over the worst and most widespread sex scandles in the history of the church. Does the buck not stop with him? What of the third world women who are denied birth control by their faith and are kept in poverty and illness by too much childbearing? These are the issues that should be examined about this pope-not how much he traveled,or all the warm fuzzy memories of his speeches stating the obvious about ending violence and helping the poor,yet his actions resulting in the opposite.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

It is my profound hope the Catholic church will wake up to the realities of the modern world and not descend into the rigid fundamentalism that appears to be gripping other world religions. Will a miracle happen?

Brian Higgins, St. Paul

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I think it is unfortunate that a man so popular, so powerful, and who did so much good, also did so much harm. He could have made a huge differece in eliminating misunderstanding and hatered toward gay and lesbians if he himself did not express such an out of date belief system through his own misunderstanding of the whole topic. He had the change to bring the catholic into the 21st century, but failed because of his unwillingness to look at fact and reality rather than out of date beliefs. THis is not only true of gays, but of issues such as womens place in the church as well; however, his comments and statements about gay people were the strongest and most damning.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

Unfortunately, I believe the next pope will be as conservative if not more so. I think if the current philosophy continues with our leadership, you will see the Catholic church begin to struggle until some step is taken to bring the Catholic Church into this century.

Kevin LaNave, St. Cloud

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I have very fond memories, and a troubling one.

I was fortunate to be able to be in Rome on two different occasions during my 20s -- in the fall of 1980, and again in the fall of 1983. I have fond memories of attending papal audiences (and getting within a few feet of him as he walked down the aisle), of attending a Mass he celebrated in St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Day, of standing on a number of occasions in St Peter's Square during his noontime blessings, and even of going to different locations in Rome to watch him arrive at a liturgy or an event. The sense of vitality about life and about faith that he stirred within me and within others was palpable.

I was a teacher in a Catholic high school when he came to Denver for World Youth Day. While I did not attend that event, a number of my students did; and the following fall, whenever one of them brought in the theme song of that event for class prayer, I can recall the looks in their eyes as we listened to it. It was very clear that the event -- certainly the pope's presence at it, but also the power of that many people, especially young people, with a sense of common mission -- had a profound effect on them.

Yet these memories are tinged with sadness about the sense of what might have been, had he responded positively to the encouragement he was given to go in person, along with other religious leaders such as the Dalai Lama, to Baghdad in the weeks prior to the beginning of the US invasion in March, 2003. It seemed to me then -- and still does -- to have been a powerful opportunity to witness the this-world relevance of the Gospel in ways that his statements about a culture of life and his opposition to the unfolding of US policy alone could not do.

As I listen to, and share in, the current sense of worldwide sympathy and grieving at his immanent death, I also wonder what these days' experiences, memories, and sense of direction could have been had he made that trip and helped to prevent that tragedy.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

First of all, I believe it is important to recognize that, while popes have a leadership role in the Church, they do not exercise complete control of its direction -- nor is their ministry, or any other for that matter, intended to do so. The magisterium is called to be attentive to, responsive to, and supportive of the movement of the Holy Spirit, Who pulses within every member of the Church and within every local Christian community (as well as within the wider world).

The Church is already headed in some important directions; following Pope John Paul II's death, it will be important for the magisterium to continue to be attentive to and supportive of those directions.

Here are three such movements that I believe the next pope ought to be particularly attentive to:

As would be apparent from my longing for his travel to Baghdad, I believe deeply in Church leadership that is engaged in even greater immersion in what Vatican II referred to as the hopes and fears of the people of this age. For the Gospel proclaims a vision of God so immersed.

I am grateful for Pope John Paul II's outreach to other religious faith traditions (e.g. Judaism, Islam). I believe the Catholic Church needs to continue its efforts in that direction.

I believe the selection of a non-Italian as pope was a worthwhile step toward a recognition of the need to catch up with the movement of the Holy Spirit, Who clearly animates a global church. While I am open to the possibility that a European (or even Italian) cardinal could become a vital pope, I believe a cardinal from one of the Majority World countries -- of Latin America, Africa, or Asia -- could stir the Church's and the world's imagination and provide an even more prophetic witness of the global vision of Christianity.

Barbara Hotop, Saginaw

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

My mother died over 20 years ago now. Ironically she died on a Sunday morning shortly after watching the Mass for Shut-Ins which was on TV every Sunday morning here in Duluth MN. She had a 2nd cousin who was a priest and worked at the Vatican in Rome at the time. The day of my mothers funeral, her cousin and the Pope had their usual morning mass and honored my mother during the service, yes, the Pope prayed for my mother. How very proud my mom would have been. Just imagine, a little grandma from Duluth, MN being honored by the Pope in Rome on ANY day. That has always a very special memory of mine regarding my mother. A true 'blessing' indeed. The Pope was a very special man and I will miss him. Most sincerely.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

Wojciech Komornicki, Roseville

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

My sister worked at a hospital in Krakaw. The hospital was across the street from the residence of the then bishop. She would go to mass celebrated by Karol Wojtywa. She would go to confession to Karol Wojtywa. And he would come to see patients at the hospital.

The Pope had a love of the mountains and all outdoors. I remember pictures of him, which my brother-in-law and sister had, hiking in the Tatra mountains.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

I think it is too early to reflect on this. At this point, I dwell on the passing of a man whose impact not only on the church but on how we care for our fellow men and women will be felt for a long time.

Lisa Schnirring, White Bear Lake

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I attended a medical conference in St Louis a few years ago, and my boss and I struck up a conversation with a cab driver, an older Polish man, who spoke of his own medical problems, mainly knee surgery from damage done years ago from skiing. Then he mesmerized us with stories of having skiied with the Pope. It reminded me the vibrancy of this special man.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

Social justice. Less dogma. A purer focus on the true lessons of Christ's example. The shows of support for the Pope today and in the past few days remind me of the great energy and potential of the Catholic church, and inspires thoughts of how Catholics could improve the lives of others in the world if we could harness this power toward social justice causes such as ending hunger, educating people, and improving healthcare.

Margaret Weglinski, Rochester

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

As a Polish American Catholic the pope has instilled great pride in my heritage (all 4 of my grandparents were born in Poland). The summer before my junior year in college, I traveled to Poland to spend six weeks studying at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. It was 1979 and John Paul II had just made his first visit to Poland as the newly elected pope. Some of the banners, decorations, and stages that had been erected to celebrate his visit were still up. Despite the fact that Poland was a communist country at that time and attending mass was considered a risky venture, there was a palpable air of hope, joy, and pride amongst the Poles I met. It was a wonderful time to be in Poland. I think one of the greatest parts of John Paul II's legacy is his contribution to the downfall of communism in Eastern Europe.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

In this time of religious fanaticism and deep division between faiths, I would like to see the church and the new pope continue with John Paul II's practice of reaching out to other religions and maintaining a spirit of inclusiveness and acceptance of other faiths.

Jerry Windley-Daoust, Winona

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

I remember watching television coverage of him during his visit to Iowa in the 1970s. My most profound memory of him, though, is of his presence at World Youth Day in Denver in 1993 and in Paris in 1997. The impact he had on the tens of thousands of young people gathered at those events was amazing. The young pilgrims from Mexico would chant, "Juan Pablo, secundo, te caere toto el mundo!" (Pardon my rotten Spanish -- it should read: "John Paul II, the whole world loves you!") And he responded with, "John Paul II, he loves you, too!" There were teens openly weeping. I spoke to a Ukranian boy who talked to the pope; his country had recently been liberated from communism, and they were saying Masses openly for the first time in decades, and he wanted to thank the pope personally. He had a direct impact on the faith of hundreds of thousands of young Catholics, just by reaching out to them in a genuine way. His writing is very insightful, as well -- people disagree with his positions, but they should take the time to read what he has to say in context. You might still disagree with him, but at least it's clear that he has a very lucid, carefully thought-out rationale for what he's doing.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

I would like to see the church continue much of JPII's legacy, but perhaps with even more intensity: speaking up for the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten, the suffering. Speaking up in defense of human dignity, and against a utilitarian, materialistic, reductionistic view of the human person. I wish the bishops would stop acting so afraid of modernity; instead of taking a defensive posture, they should enter into a genuine dialogue with the modern world, one in which the people of the world can teach the hierarchy of the church as much as the hierarchy has to teach the world. I think people might listen to the bishops if they showed they were genuinely willing to listen to others. Eventually I hope the church will ordain women; it's a scandal that it doesn't. But I think we won't see anything like that for a generation or two. I believe the next pope is likely to maintain the status quo, or even try to recover a pre-Vatican II theology for the church. In short, I'm not optimistic about the direction of the church in the immediate term, but I am optmistic about it in the long term -- as a matter of faith.

Ron Draganowski, St Paul

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

My wife and I met in a study group discussing John Paul II's Theology of the Body, his vision for God plan for humanity, created as male and female. After we were married, we had the honor of receiving his blessing at an audience with him in Rome in September 2003. I will always remember his amazingly alive blue eyes. He has been such a gift to our world.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

The upcoming generations of Catholics should acquaint themselves with Pope John Paul IIs writings, in particular his Theology of the Body, Love and Responsibility, and Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

L. Elizabeth Peterson, Minneapolis

What impact has Pope John Paul II had on your church or your faith?

John Paul II has had a profound impact on my life through his committment to truth and the universal principals of love and mercy. His consistent message of the sanctity of human life, and his stand against communism are major pillars of the legacy he has built for all of us. He has a tremendous sense of humor, loves the out of doors,children, animals and music. He is a great actor, screenplay writer; simply a wonderful Renaissance man who was a Pope to all of us. And all of us will deeply miss him.

What direction would you like to see the church head in after John Paul II's death?

Stay the course as lead by John Paul II.

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