By Gretchen Crowe and Angela Pometto
Herald Staff Writers
(From the issue of 4/7/05)

Too often Pope John Paul II was regarded as a figurehead, a representation or a symbol of the Catholic Church. Too often Catholics, and non-Catholics alike, overlooked the humanity of the man who dedicated not only the last 26 years of his life to prayer and leadership as pope, but who served the Church faithfully since his ordination is 1946.

But to many, those who met him and those who didn’t, the Bishop of Rome was a dear, faithful and trusted friend who will be missed not only for what he represented, but for who he was.

In his more than 26 years as Bishop of Rome, Pope John Paul II, the infallible leader of the Catholic Church, influenced a countless number of men training for the priesthood at North American College in the Vatican City.

From 1994-98, Father Christopher Pollard, parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington, joined the many studying to become a priest in the shadow of the Vatican. Father Pollard spoke softly and slowly about his memories of the pope, choosing his words carefully and seemingly reliving their brief moments of greeting as if they had happened 10 days rather than 10 years ago. He said that living so near to the Holy Father made the pope a "very dear and familiar loved one.

"He remains the pope; he remains the one who can teach infallibly; he becomes a human being, though," he said.

Ironically, this close proximity worked against Father Pollard’s ability to obtain an audience with the pope.

"Since we were living over there, requests to attend his morning Mass were easily ignored because they knew we were there for years," Father Pollard said, adding with a laugh that friends would come to visit for a week and have no problems attending the special Mass.

The first time Father Pollard met Pope John Paul II was at the Holy Thursday chrism Mass in 1995 where the then-seminarian was a thurifer, or a bearer of incense.

"I had just found out a few days prior that my dad was dying of cancer," Father Pollard recalled. "I got to shake (the pope’s) hand, kiss his ring, and I asked him to pray for my dad."

The priest-in-training briefly met the pope three more times during his stay in Rome, including once with his mother on the day before his diaconate.

"The day before I returned to be a priest at St. Mark in Vienna, I was finally able to attend his morning Mass," he said. The newly ordained priest concelebrated at the Mass, which honored one priest’s 40-year anniversary in the priesthood. Father Pollard told the Holy Father that he was celebrating his 40-day anniversary.

Father Pollard said that while living so close to the pope was "certainly a highlight" of his four years studying in Rome, it was not necessarily in obvious ways. Father Pollard’s joys were found in the small, everyday realities that came with living so near to the Vatican.

"Out my window I could hear when there was an outdoor Mass at St. Peter’s … or you could hear his voice amplifying through the streets," he said. "At those times it was obvious that his influence permeated widely.

"Walking through the streets at 11 p.m. you’d see his apartment window, and his light was still on, and you knew that he’d still be up working. His entire being (was) an act of love and service. He was up later than everyone and up earlier than everyone.

"I went to Rome thinking I couldn’t love the pope any more than I already did," Father Pollard said. "And I was wrong about that."

Deacon Dan Hanley is a fourth-year student at the North American College in Rome. Hanley said the three things he has gained from his seminarian years in Rome include nearness to the pope, witnessing the universal Church and becoming more familiar with the Roman saints.

While he attended many papal audiences, he met the pope face to face during a private audience in his second year.

"It was incredible," Hanley said. "There is a familiarity with the pope. I identify with him."

For Hanley, the pope was the first example of what the priesthood was all about. Every night, he says his night prayers while focusing out the window on the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

"There is a closeness to the chair of Peter and his successor," he said, adding that he’s celebrated the triduum with the pope several times now. "We are living the liturgical year with the Holy Father."

His seminarian experience has also helped the deacon realize that the Church is universal. Within his classes there are people from all over the world who have become his friends.

"Rome is a holy place sanctified by the blood of the martyrs," he said, adding that he has gained a better understanding of the communion of saints. With so many of the apostles and saints buried there, he believes that makes them more real.

"By living in the places they lived, I gain a relationship with them," he said.

Hanley was able to experience firsthand what happened in Rome as the pope lay dying. People of all ages filled St. Peter’s Square to pray for the pope in his last hours. Many were praying on their own, but at times prelates would come and lead the prayer.

"I saw three generations present," he said. "A grandmother, mother and daughter were praying together for the pope." Within the square, Hanley saw everyone from kids in strollers to older couples.

"I have never seen the square that quiet," he said, even though the numbers were steadily increasing. "They came to show their love for him and to keep vigil with him."

Hanley remembers the pope in his younger days as a "vigorous" man, but said he also witnessed the "infirm" man the pope became. His slow decrease in health paralleled the pope’s stand for the dignity of the human being.

"He taught that at the end of his life," he said. This pope was not afraid to suffer publicly.

Seminarian Philip Cozzi, a third-year student in Rome, was able to meet the pope following a Wednesday audience.

"I remember being introduced and staring into his eyes," Cozzi said. "It was like a straight shot into his soul. He is full of light."

Cozzi agreed with Hanley in that he has truly experienced the universal Church while in Rome. It has also been important to be so near the pope.

"His strength and resolve to continue in his mission has been a great source of inspiration for me," Cozzi said.

"For me the greatest blessings have been the simple things such as walking down to St. Peter’s Square, seeing the basilica all lit up at night or doing a rosary walk behind the North American College and seeing the window in the papal apartment lit up," he said, adding that he senses solidarity with the pope at these times.

Cozzi left St. Peter’s Square after 11 p.m. on April 1, the day before the pope’s death, as the world watched with prayerful eyes. He said the square was packed with priests, religious and lay people. After the faithful prayed a rosary together, there was an announcement that the square would be open throughout the night. Cozzi noticed the entourage of media trucks parked nearby.

"The general feeling is one of sadness but also calm expectation as everybody awaits to hear the news," he said of that night. "The whole city has become silent. It is as if the office of Peter has itself entered the Paschal mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection."