The life and passing of Pope John Paul II was celebrated Saturday afternoon by parishoners and priests at Roman Catholic churches across Kaua‘i. At Immaculate Conception in Kapaia Pastor Father William Shannon memorialized the late pope, calling his long papal
The life and passing of Pope John Paul II was celebrated Saturday afternoon by parishoners and priests at Roman Catholic churches across Kaua‘i.
At Immaculate Conception in Kapaia Pastor Father William Shannon memorialized the late pope, calling his long papal reign an important and blessed one.
Immaculate Conception greeter Lee Headen of Lihu‘e said, “I cried tears all night” on Friday as she awaited word of the pope’s death.
Ann Loquercio, a member of St. Catherine’s Church in Kapa‘a, said: “I’m very grateful for the type of personality that he was, strong in his beliefs and eager to reach out to the world, to be a presence…a physical presence in the world where one would not expected him to be.”
She praised his efforts to reach out to Islam and the Jewish world, and said, “I can’t say I agreed how some things were decided, but I admire him for his integrity.”
During the Mass said Saturday at Immaculate Conception, parishoners were reminded of the late pope by a photograph of John Paul that had been placed near the church’s lectern adjacent to a colorful bouquet of tropical flowers.
A Lawa‘i man said a woman burst into a food mart there and through her tears told everyone of the pope’s death just moments after it happened, showing how important the event was to Kauaians.
John Paul’s death had been widely expected since a recent series of medical problems, but the passing of the longtime head of the Roman Catholic Church was still distressing for Hawai‘i’s more than 250,000 Catholics.
“It’s a very sad day for all Catholics and all people,” said The Rev. Thomas Gross, administrator for the Honolulu diocese.
“It’s not unexpected, but it’s still difficult after 26 years to say goodbye,” Gross said of the pope’s death.
Many in Hawai‘i wonder whether the pope’s death will slow the Honolulu diocese’s ongoing search for a new bishop, or hamper the canonization process for a nun and a priest who cared for leprosy patients in Hawai‘i.
Gross predicts the pope’s death will cause only a slight delay in appointing a new bishop to replace Francis X. DiLorenzo, who was named bishop of Richmond, Va., last year.
“Most probably by the end of April we will have a new pope. After he is elected he can sign off on any appointments if they have already been processed,” Gross said.
The paths to sainthood for Father Joseph Damien de Veuster and Mother Marianne Cope, who both tended leprosy patients on the island of Molokai, likely won’t be affected by the pope’s death.
The Honolulu diocese will continue a review, ordered by the Vatican, of a second miracle credited to Damien that could qualify him for sainthood. The review is near completion, Gross said.
He said he also expects the beatification of Mother Marianne Cope to remain on schedule for May 15.
“We will likely have a new pope by then and it’s likely he will keep that commitment because about seven others are being beatified at the same time,” Gross said.
State lawmakers, including Gov. Linda Lingle, also paid tribute to the pope. Lingle noted that John Paul’s experience of living through the Holocaust helped solidify his commitment to ending oppression through-out the world.
“Having experienced the horror of Nazi occupation as a young man in his native Poland, he spoke with a deep personal conviction when calling for international peace,” said Lingle, who is Jewish.
Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona said he feels the loss at a very personal level.
“I am a Roman Catholic. For me, it’s like my father passed away,” he said.
