Recalling John Paul II’s legacy

Elia Powers

Joining millions of mourners around the world, Newport-Mesa

residents, church congregants and clergy shared in moments of silence

for Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday at 11:37 a.m. Pacific

Standard Time.

Widely regarded as the most influential pope of the 20th Century,

he led the Roman Catholic church for 26 years and was known for his

frequent international visits and steadfast moral beliefs.

The pope died in his apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square

after a prolonged illness, the Vatican reported. He was 84.

A mass was scheduled for St. Peter’s Square early today.

“It’s a sad day for the church,” said the Rev. Monsignor Lawrence

J. Baird, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and

administrator of two Newport Beach congregations -- St. John Vianney

Chapel and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

“He was a profound thinker, a renowned theologian and an

exceptional leader,” Baird said. “He captivated the world.”

At St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Costa Mesa, some

congregants sat silently in pews, staring at the ground or looking at

a cluster of candles assembled near a side door.

Orange resident Richard Kulda was driving through the neighborhood

when he decided to take a moment for prayer.

“I’ve been a great admirer of the pope for years,” said Kulda, 83.

“He was one of the greatest popes in history -- a real hard act to

follow.”

The Rev. Martin Benzoni had just finished a baptism ceremony at

St. John when he heard the news.

He spent six years studying for the priesthood in Italy and was at

St. Peter’s Square when the pope was elected in 1978. Benzoni

estimates that he met John Paul II about 20 times over the years.

One of those meetings came 24 years ago last Tuesday.

“He was so focused on you when he was talking,” Benzoni remembers.

“You were the only person who existed when he greeted you.”

Benzoni said he will remember the pope for his role in the

collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of Communism in Eastern

Europe.

He said John Paul II was especially successful in reaching out to

young people.

Italian native Lorenzo Gaglio said the pope was noted for his

inclusiveness, especially when it came to Roman Catholic-Jewish

relations. John Paul II was a witness to the Holocaust and worked

toward the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.

Gaglio, a longtime Our Lady Queen of Angels member and Newport

Beach resident, joined his wife, Georgette, at their church Saturday

shortly before the pope’s death.

“We had been watching television and wanted to say a prayer for

him in his final moments,” Georgette Gaglio said. “He had such a

charisma about him.”

The Our Lady Queen of Angels sanctuary was mostly empty around

noon, and the couple locked arms as they exited the building.

Few congregants were present at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in

Newport Beach when news of the pope’s death spread.

The Rev. Patrick Doherty, a senior priest at the Balboa Peninsula

church, said John Paul II will be remembered for his humanity.

“He’s one of the greatest churchmen and leaders of the past 50

years,” Doherty said. “He reached out to everybody, and he didn’t

just deal with church affairs.”

Born in Poland in 1920 as Karol Wojtyla, he became the first

non-Italian pope in nearly 450 years.

He traveled to 129 countries during his tenure, often attracting

hundreds of thousands of people on visits.

“He had tremendous visibility,” Baird said. “No pope in history

traveled like this one.”

Some of the Pope’s political stances proved divisive, including

his conservative outlooks on abortion and homosexuality.

In early 2001, the Pope was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He

suffered from heart and kidney problems in his final days.

Churches across Orange County held prayer sessions Saturday that

paid homage to John Paul II. At St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish,

about 125 congregants attended an afternoon service. Benzoni said in

addition to the Sunday liturgy, a special prayer service will be held

at 6:45 p.m.

The Rev. Eugene Lee of Our Lady of Angels Church said at the

church’s five regularly scheduled masses, a bell will toll for John

Paul II. A picture of him already sits on an easel in the sanctuary.

St. Joachim Catholic Church will hold regular Sunday services as

well as Monday prayer sessions at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in

Spanish.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange will hold an 11:15 a.m.

liturgy today, attended by Bishop Tod. D. Brown and clergy from

across the county.

Baird said he expects emotional sermons throughout the weekend.

“If you think of the church in our time, the pope is our icon,” he

said.