While Catholics world over mourn the demise of His Holiness the Pope ---John Paul II a Polish native born at Krakow Poland on 18th May 1920 , named Karol Josef Wojtyla this writer remembers the ocassion of his visit to Goa in 1986.
On that red letter date 6.2.1986 there was a multitude of devotees of all faiths assembled hours before break of dawn at the Campal stadium. A huge metal cross (now located at Karai in Shiroda Ponda Taluka ) formed the backdrop of a tastefully decorated stage. This writer had otherwise no prospects of an opportunity then to have a glimpse of the Pope in the vast sea of humanity that had converged at Campal. Suddenly by intuition it occured to this writer that the most vintage spot could at best be the route the Pope would take from the "Paco Patriacal " ( Archbishops Palace)(where he stayed on his arrival on 5th February, 1986 from the Dabolim airport ) on the road via the Polytechnic College Altinho downhill leading towards the venue. There were hardly any people just the residents of the few houses in that area. At around 9.20 on 6th February, 1986 on a clear cold morning ,a radiant humble cheerful reddened faced looking Pope standing in a bullet proof fibre glass encased atop a specially designed " Popemobile " moved steadily blessing the faithfully on either sides of the road. As the motorcade neared us on an almost spontaneous spiritual reverence several Hindu and Moslem women and children residents on either sides of the road fell on their knees and this writer too followed suit as the Popemobile approached us. The Holy Father was moved by this act of obeisance the vehicle stopped momentarily and His Holinees smiled and gracefully blessed us profusely twice over instantly we rushed and touched the Popemobile as if in acknowledgement of his blessings. It was the closest we could get to the Pope thankfully this part of the route did not have the armed constabulary as seen elsewhere and at the venue. This security was needed there following the assasination attempt by an young Turk Mehmet Ali Agca who fired and critically injured the Pope on 13th May, 1981 at Rome. After that the Pontifical Mass took place but for the few of us it was a mission -- to see the Pope closest and recieve his blessings was accomplished. Earlier this writer as a child also chanced to have a close look almost at arms length to see Pope John Paul the VI when he came to Mumbai (now Bombay) on 2nd December 1964 for the International Eucharistic Congress held at the Oval Maidan in Mumbai (then Bombay ) from 2nd December to 5th December 1964 . The especially erected altar was the venue where the huge multitude had gathered while late Cardinal Valerian Gracias of Bombay, a native of Telaulim in Navelim Salcete Goa did the honours on the ocassion. This Pope (John Paul VI) travelled in an open limousine (there were no terrorists fears in India then) and he waved to the huge multitude present on either sides of the road, from the the Santa Cruz airport via Byculla -- Gloria Church to the venue. We were fortunate to see him at close quarters as the motorcade glided along the road Opposite the Byculla Railway Station. The car used by the Pope was later purchased by film actor Raj Kapoor at an auction sale. The Shiv Sena unit was not born then niether was the Jan Sangh Party spitting venom . "Religion is opium for the masses " wrote George Bernard Shaw and indeed it is. Too many rituals incorporated in religion has alienated the preachings from being put in practice. While religion is a personal issue for those who believe in the faith, this Pope who was otherwise not taken too kindly in the early years of his Pontificate since 16th October 1978 by the Conservative Italian people slowly but surely turned out to be an icon of the time tested teachings of the Catholic way of life . The dignity and sanctity of Life and Human values. His profound passion for prayer as the 264th successor of St Peter induced the faithful to undo what many believed ----that Christian religion had made man a Prisoner of one's Conscience ---- In his deeds and actions in his over 26 years of reign (the longest as compared to his predecessors) he chose to send the message --- NO ONE CAN DECIEVE ONES CONSCIENCE -- FOR CONSCIENCE SPEAKS AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT AND AWAKENS ONE TO THE GROUND REALITIES --- this distinguished him from several others and endeared him to his flock he leaves behind. His bold admission of regret for the Inquisition the Holocaust and his visit to a Mosque and repentence for the past sins of the Church were a testimony that he unlike many Catholics in todays world had chose to preach and practice according to the DICTATES OF ONES CONSCIENCE -- that alone gave him the longest tenure of Papacy and to transit away from this world into the hands of our Creator Surely his words deeds and action will etch out an indelible mark on the Papacy for Catholics world over to pursue in right earnest. A solemn Mass this evening to mourn the death of the Pope is being held at THE HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH at MARGAO -- on this sad ocassion. The people of Goa who this writer contacted were one in agreeing that surely this was a different Pope who travelled world wide in all continents and won the admiration of the flock as a GOOD SHEPHERD. MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE MAY BE MAILED TO VATICAN CITY via email [EMAIL PROTECTED] to His Emminence Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State Vatican City, ROME. GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA INDIA [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony ------------------------ Yahoo! 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