Students remember Pope John Paul II as 'best pope we've had'
For most UA students, Pope John Paul II was the only one they knew.
A spiritual leader who in his 26-year papacy helped defeat communism in Europe, visited 129 countries, and was the first Pontiff to preach in a synagogue, he was also known for his deep involvement in the lives of Catholic youth.
"He was the best pope we've ever had," said Antonio Almada, a regional development junior who attended the 5 p.m. Mass at the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center at the University of Arizona yesterday. "He taught us how to achieve peace without using weapons and stopped three wars without violence. I prayed to him when he was alive and I'll pray to him even more now."
The first non-Italian pope in 455 years died in Vatican City Saturday surrounded by his closest Polish aides, after long suffering from Parkinson's disease and arthritis.
Father Burt Hutcherson, pastor at the Catholic Newman Center, 1516 E. Second St., said Pope John Paul II had been a model for him in teaching youth.
"He made it his business to help the youth, and it's amazing the way they responded," Hutcherson said. "Since I've worked with the young church my entire life, I've always been able to point to him."
In 1985, the pope established World Youth Day and every other year he would attend the International Jubilee for the Young, an annual week-long celebration bringing millions of young people around the world together to celebrate.
Hutcherson said he attended Rome's 2000 jubilee and witnessed the pope speaking to his young followers.
"Since he was the only pope present in the lives of most students, I think the members of the Newman Center are deeply, deeply affected by his death," Hutcherson said.
Students at the Catholic Newman Center yesterday agreed they were saddened by the death of the Catholic faith's leader, but relieved his suffering had ended.
"I have mixed feelings - his pain is over, but it's sad because Catholics felt so drawn to him," said Kelley Stanko, a molecular and cellular biology freshman. "John Paul opened a lot of doors, and I'm hoping it will go on with the next papacy."
The new pope will be chosen by the cardinals of the Catholic church after Pope John Paul II's burial and funeral. All but three of these Cardinals were appointed by Pope John Paul II.
All baptized Catholic males may be considered for the position, but in the past 500 years the chosen pope has been a previous Cardinal. The Vatican will release black smoke from St. Peter's Square at the end of every day until the replacement pope is chosen, and on the day he is chosen white smoke will be released.
About 1,200 people gathered at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., for a special Mass at 2 p.m. yesterday to remember Pope John Paul II.
Thirty-three Knights of Columbus marched through the church to frame the aisle for a procession of about 50 clergymen and Knights and Ladies of Sepulcher who presided over the service.
"Personable, passionate, persistent, but above all, prayerful describes the John Paul I came to know and all of us came to love," said Gerald Kicanas, Tucson bishop, during Mass. "You always knew you were important to him."
There will be a special Mass to honor the Pope at the Catholic Newman Center tonight at 7, and St. Augustine's will hold a Mass tomorrow at noon for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tucson.