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City remembers Pope John Paul II

As lakhs gathered for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II in Rome, many in Mumbai celebrated it by recollecting their fond memories of him.

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As lakhs gathered for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II in Rome, many in Mumbai celebrated it by recollecting their fond memories of him. They went for masses, concerts that was were organised for the same.

The late Pope was beatified in a mass ceremony at the in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome. The mass and ceremony, was followed by allowing his followers to view his remains in St Peter’s Basiclia. He was in the city in February 1986 when he tried to reach out to the youth.

Youngsters who attended his meet at Shivaji Park spoke highly of him. “I still remember how his car passed by me. As a priest, he always had a saintly aura. His gentle smile and merciful attitude won many hearts. If today the youth are gathered towards the faith, it is because of him. I have still kept the usher badges they provided. Me and my father did the ushering as part of the service,” said Judith Monteiro who was 16 years then.

Mount Carmel Church which organised a concert for him ensured that programs were designed to attract the youth. “We are having a concert where youth sing pop and gospel music. He was known as the Pope of for the youth,” said Fr. Warner D’Souza, parish priest of Mt. Carmel Church.

Paul was acknowledged for breaking the conservative approach of the Pope as he brought youth closer to the religion. “He would kiss and hug youth, something no Pope ever did. His words were always for the youth and which is why he is famous amongst them,” added D’Souza.

Fr. Anthony Charanghat, the public relations officer for the church and the editor of the Catholic weekly - Examiner recollected his meeting by calling the late Pope ‘dashing.’ “Our meeting was brief and I was the assistant editor of the magazine then. He asked me to do all that I could in the service of the church. He was a man of faith and acted in faith. He was a moral Christian in a sense than being a great Pope. We are conducting a small prayer near his statue.”
 

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