John Paul II: His Death and Life

Memories of the Pope

I read in The Catholic New World the request for stories about how the Holy Father touched us.

Growing up Catholic, I really didn’t know much about my faith. When I was 20 I was invited to go to World Youth Day in Denver. The only reason I went was because it was a big deal. I can remember so well the day the pope arrived at Mile High Stadium. People were crying as the helicopter drew closer. I can remember thinking “Why are the people crying? What’s the big deal? They just want to be on TV or get their picture taken in the newspaper!”

I don’t know what happened to me, but as the Holy Father stepped out of the helicopter it was like the grace of the Holy Spirit shined everywhere; it could not been seen—only felt. It came over me and I began to cry and my body shook. “What’s happening to me? Why am I shaking?” I thought.

In Denver, I learned and paid attention to whatever was being discussed. I learned sooooo much about my beautiful faith. I felt so joyful, almost like I discovered a hidden treasure. This would not have been possible without the Holy Father’s World Youth Day.

Gracias Papito, for coming to us youth. I love you.

Nancy Guizado, e-mail



Although he was one of the great intellectuals of our time, Pope John Paul II’s greatest teaching was also his simplest: that each of our lives is intrinsically holy and worthy of respect because we are created in the image of the one true God; and thus we share the divine life and dignity, regardless of our wealth, health or station in life.

John Benz, Orland Park



It was one of the most extraordinary weeks of my life. Not so much because of my role in organizing the media contacts/opportunities for Cardinal George, or the comings and goings of the world’s cardinals; but because of the pilgrims, and the wake/funeral and the overwhelming effect that the papacy of JPII had on each person there—the millions and millions who came to pray, sing, rejoice in this man’s life and certainly to grieve over his death. I saw Poles, Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Ethiopians, Nigerians, Japanese, Indonesians, Mexicans, Americans, and hundreds of other countries, ages 3-93.

This vast throbbing, vibrating, energizing mass of believers renewed my faith in the universality of the church’s core beliefs, through the seemingly tireless plea of JPII to respect the dignity of all persons; that each person could feel the intensity of the Holy Father’s belief in the eternal destiny of each of them, of us.

Jimmy Lago, archdiocesan chancellor, who accompanied Cardinal George to the funeral of Pope John Paul II



My mother and I have fond memories of our experiences at papal audiences in Rome. In the summer of 1980, I wandered into St. Peter’s Square without a ticket for the papal audience but attached myself to a group of pilgrims who were promptly escorted to the front section. After the audience the Holy Father made his way down the aisle shaking hands and blessing the pilgrims. I didn’t know what to say as he approached but blurted out “Archbishop Abramowicz sends you his warmest regards.” The Holy Father stopped, smiled, extended his hand and said, “You are from Chicago” in his thick, loveable accent.

In the summer of 1991, my mom, Joan Strzyz, and I were at an audience in the then-new Paul VI Audience Hall. I learned the benefit of being seated at the aisle and so positioned my mother and myself. Sure enough, as the Holy Father entered from the rear of the auditorium, he went up the aisle greeting and shaking hands with the pilgrims. Bishop Abramowicz had since died but my mother got the pope’s attention with her fluent Polish. We were both delighted he stopped and chuckled after seeing the photo as we noted the man next to us appears to be devouring the Holy Father’s left hand.

We were subsequently most fortunate to have Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz get our photos autographed by the Holy Father. In subsequent audiences we’ve attended the Holy Father became progressively more incapacitated and such photo opportunities were no longer possible, making us cherish the opportunities we had in the earlier year of the Holy Father’s papacy. The memories will last a lifetime.

Dr. James J. Strzyz and Mrs. Joan Strzyz, Palos Heights



I have a beautiful memory of Pope John Paul II. My son and I arrived early to attend the Mass in Grant Park (1979). But already there were many people there. We found a bench around Balbo and Michigan and sat for a while. Soon, the area was inundated with people and we had to stand on the bench with half a dozen others.

Everyone was courteous and we stayed there until the end. We didn’t have a clear view, but we were able to participate in the Mass. After the Mass was over and the crowd started to diminish, we left our spot feeling bad that we didn’t get closer to the pontiff, to really see him.

However, God was with us and as we started walking north on Michigan Avenue a group of cars, with the pope in his open-air vehicle, came down the street. We were speechless; we were so close as he raised his hand in blessing. I felt he looked right at us.

What an awesome feeling, and well worth the three-hour wait.

Lorraine Matthiessen, Northlake



The American Jewish Committee profoundly mourns the passing of Pope John Paul II. He was the central figure of our times in the remarkable transformation in Catholic-Jewish relations in particular, and Christian-Jewish relations, in general.

Pope John Paul II will be remembered throughout the world for his unparalleled religious leadership, his historic role in the collapse of communism, and as a universal voice of conscience in troubled times. The Jewish community also will remember him with particular affection—no pope had ever given the degree of attention to Jewish communities worldwide or received Jewish leadership at the Vatican so readily and so extensively as did John Paul II.

(He) … was the first pope ever to visit a synagogue; to honor the memory of the victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) with a memorial concert in the Vatican; to establish full relations between the Holy See and the State of Israel, and to make an official visit to the State of Israel. His forceful condemnations of anti-Semitism as a sin against God and man were highlighted by the liturgy of repentance that he initiated on the eve of the Millennium, asking forgiveness for acts committed by Christians against Jews down the ages--a text that he subsequently personally placed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Emily Soloff, director of the Chicago Chapter of the American Jewish Committee



How will Pope John Paul II be remembered by the Jewish people? In 1942, a Jewish couple in the Krakow ghetto entrusted their son to a childless Polish Catholic couple to save him from the Germans. When the war was over the boy’s adoptive parents brought him to a young priest to be baptized. When the young priest learned that the orphan’s parents had asked that he be returned to the Jewish people, the priest refused to baptize the boy. That priest, then known as Karol Wojtyla, became Pope John Paul II. We remember him as one who forever remained a friend of the Jewish people.

How will Pope John Paul II be remembered by the Jewish people? On March 26, 2000, (he) came to Jerusalem, to the heart of Israel, to that city to which all Jewish hearts have turned for 2000 years. He came to the Western Wall, adjacent to the Temple Mount. He placed a prayer in the Western Wall. It read: “God of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your name to the nations; we are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer and, asking your forgiveness, we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the covenant.”

With these lines, he became the first pope in 2000 years to recognize that the Jewish people remain the people of the covenant. This is how we shall remember him.

Steven B. Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago



Catholic Charities deeply mourns the loss of Pope John Paul II. The church and the world have been profoundly blessed by his faith, wisdom and ministry.

Catholic Charities, charged by the universal church with the responsibility to serve anyone in need regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity or economic or social background, has looked to Pope John Paul II as a model of charity. Truly the servant of God and of God’s people, he faithfully followed Christ’s example, even unto death, of washing the feet of the poor and vulnerable throughout the world.

He raised his voice clearly in solidarity with those who were poor and persecuted, embraced all who were suffering, and championed those who were most vulnerable: the poor, the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the disabled. He treasured children and inspired young people. In recent years, as he courageously dealt with his own advancing frailty and illness, he was a role model for elderly people throughout the world. He saw every human being as a child of God, and every stage of life as a gift from God.

Pope John Paul II changed history by his word and example. … (He) challenged societies and governments on economic and social justice issues, advocating for the rights of the poor, the oppressed, workers and all the exploited. He preached the Gospel of peace and justice in every country, brought warring factions to the table and fostered dialogue and diplomacy rather than confrontation and violence.

He was the model of the charity of Christ himself, giving to himself completely to the service all people. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is grateful for the life, death and example of Pope John Paul II, and we recommit ourselves to our mission to serve the poor.

Father Michael Boland, administrator of Catholic Charities



When the history of mankind is finally completed, the most significant among us will be acknowledged for their humanity against overwhelming odds, just like their role model, Jesus Christ.

To do what is morally just opens one up to ridicule and scorn by those who dominate our culture. To do so and retain the respect of the masses is as rare today as it was 20 centuries ago.

Pope John Paul II was just such a man. I consider it a blessing to have lived during his lifetime and to have recognized his magnificent attributes, most notably his devotion to the politically downtrodden and his stubborn resolve to stand up for their rights.

He condemned communism for its pagan philosophy and criticized America for our excesses and disrespect for human life. The Soviet Union has long since collapsed and America, despite its current lone status as a superpower, is on shaky ground—not for its controversial overthrow of a brutal dictatorship that brought democracy to 25 million Iraqis, but for our contempt for the vulnerable here at home which has spread to other lands. May the next pope carry on the righteous work of John Paul.

Al Carli, Chicago



I am deeply sorry for the death of “the Greatest Father of the Nation.” He is the (only) pope I have known. He was my father in a true sense. I was touched by him and joined the Catholic Church three years ago and got married after the (church’s) approval of my marriage.

I know he suffered many obstacles and pulled through with grace. I was inspired by him in many ways. He was sick but he never complained. He had all kinds of health problems but he never missed his appointments. He worked until his last breath.

May his soul rest in peace.

Margaret O’Connor, Grayslake



Pope John Paul II touched the Mordini family of Lake Forest in a special way.

Glenn and Donna Mordini’s daughter, Mara, was not yet six months old when the pope visited Chicago in 1979. But despite the chill in the air, Donna Mordini took her baby and waited outside Holy Name Cathedral, where the pope was attending a concert. As he left, she reached past the cordon of police and held Mara out to him. A relative stood by with a camera.

The family has always treasured the photos of a young, smiling pontiff in white, holding the baby in yellow gingham, as a nearby police officer grins.