Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005

I heard mass at St. Patrick's at noon today, Saturday. Media tents surrounded the blocks from 49th to 50th Street along Fifth Avenue. It wasn't unusual for the cathedral to be packed as a majority of tourists make it one of their stops. But no matter how crowded, as soon as mass began, there was a hush and it was a very solemn celebration of the Eucharist. There was nothing unsual, except that too the far right of the altar, several pews were blocked off to accommodate more cameramen and their equipment.

It was a sad preparation for the expected passing of the most loved pope of this century.

I had lunch with a friend at Rockefeller Plaza and and as we stepped out of the restaurant in the midst of the pouring rain, we heard the sad eerie tolling of the bells from the cathedral. People along 49th Street were all looking toward the direction of the sound, many stopping in their track and frozen in trying to comprehend the emotions of the moment. No words needed to be said. The bells had unfolded the news.

Pope John Paul II had died at 9:37 PM DST Italy in his apartment in the Vatican City.

We returned to the cathedral briefly to say a prayer for the eternal repose of his soul. My friend is not a Catholic but he was just as moved.

In my mind, I will remember the Pope for the motto on the banners that greeted him on his visit to Manila - Totus Tuus which he adapted to be his own after he survived an assasination attempt in 1981. This pope inspired many, including myself to keep faith in the Catholic Church despite the many scandals that had struck through the past decade. His sincerity and his aura had made him almost not human, almost like a living saint and has touched the souls of even those who are 'half-believers'. And to his death, Pope John Paul II has lived for his flock with the dedication of a shepherd.

Totus Tuus - Entirely Yours Am I.